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

I am from China. Before enrolling in graduate school, I earned my undergraduate degree at the Communication University of China in Nanjing, where I studied film production, focusing on film and stage lighting design. During my undergraduate studies, I worked on film and creative projects and started my first film production company. After that, I went on to establish two additional companies in e-commerce and tech services. These experiences gave me practical exposure to both creative work and management responsibilities. After graduation, I took two gap years. During that time, I spent a lot of time reading and attended academic programs in Hong Kong and Shanghai, where I studied coding, data analysis, and global policy and political economy.

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

I learned about the public diplomacy degree program through my own entrepreneurial experience during my undergraduate years. While running my businesses, I encountered issues related to international trade, including unexpected tariffs in different countries that led to canceled orders. These experiences made me want to better understand how political and economic relationships shape national trade policies.

At the same time, as my e-commerce TikTok account gained more visibility, I began receiving collaboration inquiries from local television stations in several European countries. My initial reaction was not excitement, but nervousness. I quickly realized the importance of understanding national policies, international communication strategies, and the broader context behind cross-border media engagement. I came to see that if I wanted to use communication more effectively to support business development, I needed a stronger foundation at the intersection of politics, commerce, and culture in order to make more informed strategic decisions.

I chose USC Annenberg because of its strength in communication studies and its close connection to public diplomacy as a field of practice. Being located in Los Angeles — one of the most diverse and internationally connected cities in the U.S. — as well as the support of the Trojan alumni network, further reinforced my decision to pursue the program at USC.

What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?

What I have enjoyed most about the Public Diplomacy program is how practice-oriented and supportive the learning environment is, both in and outside the classroom.

In the classroom, I especially valued the program’s strong emphasis on applied public diplomacy. Through the Public Diplomacy Lab, I had the opportunity to work on a real-world project with diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Singapore. Working directly with practitioners helped me understand how public diplomacy operates in practice, beyond theory or case studies. I also benefited greatly from learning alongside a public diplomat in residence from the U.S. Department of State. Having consistent interaction throughout the semester with someone who brought firsthand diplomatic experience into the classroom was a unique experience that I found difficult to replicate at other institutions.

Beyond the classroom, the program offers meaningful opportunities for international learning and professional engagement. I was able to travel to Japan with faculty and classmates to study the World Expo through direct observation and field research. In addition, students are encouraged to engage with the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, where I had the opportunity to publish my work and connect theory with global public diplomacy practice.

On a personal level, I deeply appreciated the support from faculty and advisors. As someone new to the U.S. environment, I experienced significant cultural adjustment early on, and my professors consistently guided me through coursework, research, and academic writing, while also offering encouragement in everyday life. The program feels not only like a place of study but also like a close-knit community that feels like home, where faculty, advisors, and classmates genuinely support one another.

I also valued being part of a smaller, close-knit program with an active student organization, the Society of Public Diplomats, which provides a platform for turning ideas about public diplomacy into real initiatives. Beyond academic collaboration, students also organize informal activities together — such as beach day and group hikes — which further strengthen our sense of community and peer support.

Finally, the interdisciplinary structure of USC Annenberg allowed me to tailor my academic training to my interests. Courses in communication management, public relations, global communication, and digital media helped me build a strong foundation connected to public diplomacy. I was also able to take research methodology and video game-related courses that support my future doctoral research interests, as well as classes in computational thinking at the Viterbi School of Engineering and business and professional development courses at the Marshall School of Business. These opportunities allowed me to explore my academic interests with flexibility and depth, and to develop the research mindset required for publishable work.