April 10, 2023 —The Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) is nationally renowned as one of the most respected sources for polling data and analysis. Thanks to Marist student Athen Hollis '24, you can now go beyond the numbers and get a deeper look at polling trends by listening to The Poll Hub, a podcast produced by Hollis and hosted by several MIPO leaders, including Dr. Lee Miringoff, Barbara Carvalho, Mary Griffith, and Jay DeDapper.

A native of Southern Maine and a political science major and honors student, Hollis began working on the podcast her sophomore year. She has since worked her way up from researcher to producer, and her duties include researching segments, contacting guests, and writing segments and social media posts.

“I truly enjoy my time at the Marist Poll,” said Hollis. “It has developed my communication skills and I have been able to reach out to people from The Washington Post and USA Today to get some notable names as guests. The greatest experience with the podcast is getting to work with Jay, Barb, Mary, and Lee. I really enjoy seeing their process and getting to learn from them.”

Athen Hollis '24 at work at the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, producing an episode of The Poll Hub podcast. Photos by Zachary Gawron/Marist College

While her work is largely behind the scenes, Hollis can often be heard on the podcast as well.

“I was actually a guest myself on an episode for International Women’s Day,” said Hollis. “It was Barb, Mary, and I representing three generations of women talking about the struggles we have gone through.”

Now a crucial member of the MIPO team, Hollis has made a major impact on the production of the podcast.

“Athen’s responsibilities as a Newsfeed Media Assistant align closely with the Institute’s mission,” said Miringoff, Director of MIPO. “Whether it’s serving as an interviewer, working in our College To Career internship program, or taking coursework, ‘Learning by doing’ has always been the mantra at the Poll.”

“Athen’s eagerness to take on new assignments and responsibilities has been an asset to the Poll,” said DeDapper, Director of Strategy & Innovation at MIPO. “She learns new skills and tackles challenges with tenacity and good humor.”

Hollis says she does not have any set plans for after graduation but does plan on taking a gap year to travel and then will consider law school. 

About the Marist Institute for Public Opinion
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion is a survey research center based on the campus Marist College. The Institute was the first college-based research center to include undergraduates in conducting survey research. It regularly measures public opinion at the local, state, and national level. Today, the Marist Poll is proud to have more than 400 students on its team each semester.