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

I am from San Carlos, California, located in the Bay Area, and I received my BA in communication with a minor in leadership studies at Azusa Pacific University in 2019. I spent the last three years investing in the next generation of leaders as an educator in a TK-8 school, primarily working with middle schoolers. In my work, I often acted as a bridge between leadership, teachers, students, and parents, uniting stakeholders through communication. I built classroom and school culture, managed conflicts, and supported students through the pandemic, racial reckoning, and mental health crises. 

Through this time, I also enjoyed designing, teaching, and co-teaching elective curricula for executive functioning skills and creative storytelling through podcasting and writing. After school hours, I led a homework program and tutored students to instill a love of learning and foster kid’s excitement for their future. Watching the middle school class I began with in their 6th-grade year graduate right before I transitioned to USC was especially rewarding. Ultimately, I loved the opportunity to be rooted in the same place over time to pursue relationships and organizational impact. Committing to this process pointed me to a deeper desire to serve not just students but employees within organizations. 

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

While teaching, I researched a degree program that would elevate and build upon my experience to become a communication expert. It quickly became clear through the powerful legacy of alums and faculty that USC Annenberg was the best place to facilitate that growing process.

Within USC’s communication management program, I was drawn to the freedom students have to make the program fit their career trajectory, offering both breadth and specificity. I was also impressed that the program is so dynamic; courses are refined and introduced to reflect industry trends and the need to best prepare graduates beyond the program. Through the coursework, I found the practices I sought to build necessary for every organizational leadership and partnership role. 

What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?

This program has already been incredibly valuable and useful. What we learn in class is promptly implemented and reinforced through opportunities to conduct outside research and partner with industry professionals. It has been exciting to see those practices already working effectively and being affirmed by experts in the field.

What I appreciate the most is that the communication management program not only opens doors but equips us to be successful once we get those opportunities. To think how much I have improved professionally in the last several months alone assures me that I made the right decision in choosing this program at USC Annenberg.