Where are you from and what were you doing before enrolling in graduate school?

I am from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but I lived in Minnesota for four years before coming to USC. Before enrolling as a graduate student, I was an undergraduate student at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and came straight to USC about a month after graduating. 

How did you learn of the degree program and why did you choose USC Annenberg?

I first learned of the MS program from an undergraduate professor of mine who recommended that I might like what Annenberg has to offer. I looked it up and did a lot of research on it before eventually my visit to campus officially sold me on the school. I chose USC for its amazing newsroom, its professors and the support that I felt on my visit. I could tell everyone here cared about me and believed in me as a young journalist. 

What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?

I think the best part of the program is the opportunities that Annenberg gives you as an up-and-coming journalist, specifically within the newsroom. It’s a student-led, learning-first newsroom, which means it’s a great place to work on both your writing skills and your leadership skills if you’re in an editorial position. In addition, as a student interested in both writing and broadcast, the newsroom has awesome (and countless) opportunities for you to get on-air experience AND experience behind the scenes while also lifting students up and supporting them to go cover events that interest them. Lastly, the professors are extremely well connected in the journalism world and are always supportive and willing to help students become better reporters.