James T. Tiedge Memorial Award

CHRISTOPHER E. PARDON, COMM '92

Brooklyn, N.Y.

As a child, Chris Pardon envisioned that he’d grow up to be a professional athlete.

But these days, it’s not his work on a playing field that garners him attention. Instead, it’s for his job as senior director in CNN’s Strategic Integration Group, a position he has held since 2005.

“The opportunity to see the fruits of your labor on television on a daily basis is very rewarding,” he says.

As senior director, Chris participates in creative development and manages the execution of integrated multiplatform sponsorships and client marketing partnerships for CNN, HLN and the CNN Airport Network. All told, these generate millions of dollars in annual revenue for Turner Broadcasting System Inc. But for Chris, it’s not about the money.

“There’s no greater thrill than being able to say, ‘I came up with that idea,’ knowing hundreds of thousands — and, in some cases, millions — of viewers across the country are watching,” he says.

Outside the office, Chris is extremely active with the Marquette Club of New York City and has taken a leadership role in the career development of current students and recent graduates by securing interviews for both in the New York area and Northeast. He also is a member of the club’s Cristo Rey scholarship committee, which is raising funds to send a student from one of New York’s three Cristo Rey schools to Marquette on a full scholarship.

It’s important to Chris that he bestow the Marquette experience he enjoyed so much onto others, noting that the college’s emphasis on media ethics resonated deeply with him.

“If you’re the person you’re supposed to be, as opposed to the person you want to be, success will eventually find you when you’re least expecting it,” he says.

Fun facts about Christopher:
Hometown: Westport, Conn.
Favorite book: Rain Storm by Barry Eisler
Someone alive or dead he’d like to have dinner with: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
The Marquette faculty members who had an impact on Chris: All BREC faculty, particularly Dr. Michael Havice and Karen Slattery
Favorite Marquette memory: "There are way too many!" Though he can’t think of just one, the friendships he made at Marquette have stood the test of time and he is frequently in touch all of his close friends from Marquette.
In grade school, Chris wanted to be a professional athlete.
Most influential people in Chris’ life: His parents