Eileen Drage O'Reilly '86 | Beaumont School

Eileen Drage O’Reilly ‘86 brings a mission-centered approach to leadership in journalism, media literacy, and advocacy for the First Amendment. She is the Head of Standards and AI Practices at Axios, served as President of the National Press Club in 2023, and will be honored with a Prize of Excellence Award from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents – USA later this year.

Eileen has more than 30 years of experience across the U.S., Asia and Europe, with expertise spanning newsroom standards, AI practices, investigations, international affairs, public policy and press freedom. She is also committed to strengthening local journalism, addressing news deserts, and supporting the next generation of journalists.

Eileen earned a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University and an M.A. in Asia-Pacific studies from the University of Leeds. Her foundation in Beaumont's Ursuline tradition, together with the Jesuit emphasis on educating the whole person, helped shape the values she brings to journalism: a commitment to truth, intellectual curiosity and a drive for excellence.