When Katherine Catlett ’22 graduated from Samford University with a degree in communication studies, she knew she wanted to be a writer. What she did not know was how God would open a door for her to combine writing and ministry through social media strategy.
Catlett now serves as social media manager and strategist for Reclaim Today, a division of Our Daily Bread Ministries that focuses on connecting with people in their 20s and 30s. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she is shaping online spaces where encouragement and faith intersect.
Writing has been part of Catlett’s life since she was 12. She has filled dozens of journals and felt called to be an author since high school. After graduation, she explored different jobs while continuing to write on the side. A timely conversation with her mentor, Elisa Morgan, led her to Our Daily Bread Ministries. Soon after, Catlett accepted a position with Reclaim Today and moved from Alabama to Michigan.
“Working in social media management and strategy was never on my radar,” she said. “But the job was a great opportunity, and I knew God was calling me to take the leap.”
For Catlett, writing has been about processing life and pointing herself back to God. What began as private journal entries grew into encouraging texts for friends and later into posts shared with a wider audience online.
“The world is already harsh enough, especially online, and I want my work to be a bright spot in people’s lives when they need it most,” she said.
Her writing often draws on personal experiences of heartbreak and healing, with a desire to help young women know they are not alone. “My prayer is that my readers feel seen, encouraged and empowered,” she said. “God does not just slap a Band-Aid on their broken heart and call it good. He loves them enough to take his time healing the deepest, most broken places.”
This spring, Catlett signed with a literary agent to pursue her first book project, which will focus on helping girls heal after breakups. The proposal is now in the hands of publishers. “It has been my dream since I was 16 to be an author,” she said. “I am praying this book will be a step toward encouraging even more young women in their faith and healing.”
Catlett credits much of her growth to her professors and mentors at Samford, especially Rhonda Parker, professor of communication studies, and Dana Basinger, assistant dean of Howard College. “They poured into me both inside and outside the classroom,” she said. “Their mentorship shaped me deeply, and I am eternally grateful for the way they have continued to support me even after graduation.”
Looking back, she sees how mentors and experiences at Samford prepared her for the calling she now lives out each day—uplifting and encouraging others toward hope.
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