Ambrosia Neldon has been named the managing editor of Leader Publications’ daily and weekly newspapers that include the Niles Daily Star, Dowagiac Daily News, Edwardsburg Argus, Cassopolis Vigilant and Off the Water.

Neldon, a Niles native, has lived in Michiana the majority of her life.

An honors graduate from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and rhetoric and writing studies, Neldon said she is excited to tackle new challenges.

“The progress our editorial team has made in the last year provides a great foundation for even more positive changes to our publications,” Neldon said. “I am excited to continue working with our outstanding staff to find new and improved ways to tell the stories of the people in the Michiana community.”

Michael Caldwell, publisher and president of Leader Publications, said Neldon earned this opportunity through her hard work and dedication to making the newspapers the best they can be.

“In a very short amount of time, Ambrosia has shown tremendous natural leadership ability and a clear vision for how newspapers like ours should serve the community,” Caldwell said. “Her passion and commitment come through in everything she does. We have a talented team in place. To borrow from a sports analogy, we continue to work to ensure that each person is ‘playing the right position’ in order to reach their full potential.”

Neldon began her professional career at Leader Publications in August 2013 as layout editor.

“We have some new projects ahead that I am excited to share with the community, and several decades-old products I hope to continue to improve to fit the needs and interests of our readers,” she said. “I am so fortunate to be given the opportunity to share the work I love with the community I love, and I am confident that this passion combined with our team’s hard work and dedication will help us to create some of the best publications our readers have ever seen here at Leader Publications.”