Danielle Saroyan Ashbahian

What impact did your graduate experience have on your professional trajectory?

Annenberg provided me with a wide network of professionals, including guest speakers and alumni, from different fields such as the U.S. Government and think tanks. This was invaluable experience as I was able to ask them questions directly about their job experience, which shaped what I was interested in doing. This networking also helped me when I moved to Washington, D.C. and reached out to them for advice.

What from your USC Annenberg education best equips you to face the challenges of your field today?

The international diversity from classmates, professors, and guest speakers helped equip me when working with different foreign governments and embassies.

What advice would you give for someone considering graduate studies at USC?

My advice for someone considering graduate studies at USC is to take advantage of all the resources and attend all of the events. Don’t be afraid to grab coffee with a professor, classmate, or guest speaker. You never know when those connections will come back to help you!

What is the one thing that a USC Annenberg student ought to take advantage of while enrolled?

Attend as many events as possible, as well as workshops that help further your career. For example, I attended Adobe Photoshop and InDesign workshops that have been increasingly more useful than I thought they would be.