From her first visit to the Olivet Nazarene University campus to her current career as an Emmy-nominated producer for WGN-TV’s lifestyle show Daytime Chicago, Alyssa Franklin follows God’s leading in His plan for her life. In the process, she is seeing her dreams come true.
Growing up with three siblings in a Godly household, Alyssa learned to put God first in everything. She and her family continue to put Jesus at the forefront of everything they say and do.
At Olivet, Alyssa began blending her passion for media with her deep love for ministry. Her bachelor’s degree is in Multimedia Communication with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. “My Olivet professors — especially Professor Mark Bishop, Dr. Beth Patrick-Trippel and Dr. Heather McLaughlin — helped me develop my strengths and get hands-on, real-world experience,” she says. “They taught me the necessary skills for success and showed me what was possible for my career.”
Alyssa was one of those Olivet students who seems to be everywhere on campus at the same time! She served on a Music Ambassador team; sang in chapel and with the Proclamation Gospel Choir; was elected to the Homecoming Court; and gave tours as a Student Ambassador in the Admissions Center. In her dorm, she started and led a women’s Bible study, The Passover. She also traveled on mission trips to the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago and internationally to Uganda. During her senior year, she completed a dream internship at a TV station in downtown Chicago.
Today, Alyssa continues to blend media and ministry in her life. She and her sisters lead worship and record music as A4L Music. She started and leads Chicago Girls Love Jesus, a ministry to bring women together in community.
“Whether I’m in the newsroom at WGN‑TV or leading worship at my parents’ church, I want people to see Jesus in me and encounter His love,” Alyssa says. “I want to do more than excellent work in my life. I want to be salt and light in a dark world.”
Learn more about how you can become part of Olivet’s mission for many years to come. Contact campaign director Susan Wolff at swolff@olivet.edu or call 815-928-5776 to schedule an appointment with a member of our team.
