BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
HGOLDFINGER@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA —
The Observer has welcomed Anita Stiefel as its new managing editor.
“Before moving to Auburn in September, I most recently worked as managing editor of The Times-Journal newspaper in Fort Payne, Alabama,” Stiefel said.
“My brother and I have always had the dream of retiring in Auburn, and when an opportunity arose, the whole family decided to move here.”
Stiefel is not new to the area — she is an Auburn alumna, having graduated with both her bachelor’s and master’s in communication. She also completed her doctoral studies at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“I set out to be an orthodontist but fell into journalism while in the work-study program as an undergraduate,” Stiefel said. “I was assigned to The Auburn Alumnews, where I was mentored by the late, great Kaye Lovvorn and learned I have a penchant for writing so I changed my major to public relations and minored in journalism.
“My first job after college was in the University Relations department, where I worked as assistant editor of the AU News Bureau for five years before being named public relations director at North Georgia College (now the University of North Georgia).”
Stiefel hasn’t always covered the news, she also taught for a while.
“I’ve always had a knack for explaining information to others, so teaching is my ‘other’ career,” she said. “I taught college-level journalism, public speaking and interpersonal communication courses at a number of schools throughout the Southeast for a total of 28 years, including at Auburn University, Southern Union, Jacksonville State, Troy University and the University of West Florida.”
The new managing editor also owned a sports bar.
“Through the years, In my spare time, I’ve burned off energy by opening a sports bar and a souvenir shop, as well as by flipping houses in northeast Alabama,” she said. “My two dogs, Pip and Sy, keep me busy.”
Stiefel’s family lives here as well.
“[Her brother] works promoting the College of Engineering’s National Center for Asphalt Technology, and mom is enjoying her retirement years at Monarch Estates independent living,” she said.
She started with The Observer on Oct. 9.
“I’m excited to bring my skills and experience to The Observer, and I look forward to getting to know everyone in the community,” she said. “This is a wonderful place to live and work. It’s been great to reunite with former friends, and I’m excited to make many new friends in the future.”