To say that Bob Cusack '92 has been busy for the last few weeks would be an understatement. As editor-in-chief of The Hill, Cusack and his team of journalists who cover Capitol Hill and politics have been in the thick of events in Washington, D.C. Nonetheless, Cusack took time around this week's Presidential Inauguration to write an Alum Spotlight for LoyolaGreyhounds.com.

Cusack graduated from Loyola in 1992 after four years playing for Rick McClure on the Greyhounds men's tennis team. When his dreams of becoming the next Bob Costas did not pan out, Cusack turned to a passion for politics to put his journalistic skills to use. For nearly 20 years, Cusack has been a mainstay in the Washington, D.C. media and is now editor-in-chief of The Hill, as well as serving as a frequent guest on many national news programs.

He developed a love for acting was fostered as his parents ran an "off, off, off Broadway theater" while he was growing up, and that has translated to both television and movies. Cusack holds a Screen Actors' Guild card and has appeared in HBO's "Veep" and the recently-released "Wonder Woman 1984."

Read more about Cusack, in his own words...

When and how did you become involved in tennis, and what led you to Loyola and its men's tennis team?
 
My parents taught me how to play tennis when I was about five, and I've been playing ever since. I played in high school though a new coach came in my senior year and cut half the team, including me. That was devastating. At that point, I decided I wanted to play for a university that I could play tennis for, as well as one that had great teachers and academic programs. 
 
What are some of your standout memories from studying and playing at Loyola?
 
I learned many things at Loyola about journalism, which was my major. First and foremost, I became a much better writer. On the court, the highlights were winning two conference doubles championships and being named co-captain my senior year, when we went 12-3. 
 
What drew you to journalism, and in particular was there a pull into the political side of the field?
 
My first goal was to get into sports broadcasting, but I was always intrigued by presidential politics. When I realized I wasn't the next Bob Costas, I decided to look for other opportunities in journalism. Getting my first job in journalism took me more than two years, and I nearly gave up. But I was persistent. I landed an interview with Peter Angelos, the owner of the Baltimore Orioles, after more than 50 phone calls to his office. A small paper agreed to run the article for free, and that anecdote helped me get my first job. 
 
After graduation, what was your career path that took you to The Hill?
 
My first job in the field was with a well-respected media outlet called Inside Washington Publishers. The editors there taught me how Washington, D.C. worked and everything there is to know about journalism. I covered the Labor Department and then later started a health care newsletter and website for the company. In 2003, I joined The Hill as a health care reporter in 2003. A year later, I was named managing editor and in 2014, I became editor in chief.
 
Since working there, you've had the opportunity to work as an analyst on television and obviously there has been a huge rise in social media? How have the dynamics of your job changed over the years?
 
The media treadmill has gotten much faster over the years and politics, unfortunately, has gotten nastier, and sometimes violent as we saw recently on Capitol Hill.  There is pressure to be fast and accurate, and we have to be both, as well as non-partisan. The appetite for political news has exploded, and I'm proud to say The Hill is the largest, independent political site in the country. 
 
What are a few of the stories that you remember the most from your time covering politics? 
 
It's a great feeling to break exclusive stories, and to work with our reporters who get scoops. I've won awards on stories about health care, tax policies and an emergency telecommunication tool that was implemented after 9/11. But what I remember the most are the interviews. I've had the opportunity over the years to interview many of the top political leaders, including the late John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer and Donald Trump. 
 
You also are a member of the Screen Actors Guild and have appeared in VEEP and the newly-released Wonder Woman 1984. How did you become involved in that?
 
I grew up in midtown Manhattan and in their free time, my parents ran an off, off, off Broadway theater company. I would act in various plays that they put on and auditioned for movies and commercials as a kid. You have to audition for any speaking role and the odds are 100-1 against you. However, I was fortunate to land the parts in Veep and Wonder Woman 1984, and the reactions from both have been special. When I was filming Veep, it was in the middle of a government shutdown showdown and the actors on the set were about me politics of the moment. It was surreal to talk to actors playing fictional political roles while talking about real politics.
 
Are there things that you picked up from your time with Loyola tennis that have helped you throughout your career?
 
I learned a lot from Loyola's long-time tennis coach Rick McClure. He has been a mentor and a lifelong friend. He pushed me when I needed pushing and lifted me up when I was down. His guidance has been invaluable to me. Playing tennis at Loyola taught me lessons in leadership, responsibility and time management. I used those skills in my job today. The bottom line is that attending Loyola changed my life. I met my wife, Joyce, at Loyola and we have three remarkable children.