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

I was born in Ohio, but I grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia, so that’s home. My family is a melting pot of Eastern and Western Europe — Spanish and Ukrainian descent — so it makes for a neat story when I say I’m a Spanish-Ukrainian from the southeast.

Before enrolling in the USC communication management program, I was finishing my undergraduate study at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where I majored in speech communications and minored in marketing. I was fortunate to have had various jobs/internships in industries like journalism, furniture, real estate, and politics during my time there.

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

I actually learned about the program when I was on the phone with an academic advisor at another graduate institution I was interested in attending. They explicitly stated, “If you want to study communication, Annenberg is the best school in the world for that.” This spoke volumes to me, and it just shows how big of a global presence Annenberg has. As I started to research the program, I knew that if I were fortunate enough to be admitted that the program and the university as a whole would be profoundly influential for my future. I also had never really spent time out west before, let alone a city with a magnitude like Los Angeles, and I wanted to do something I’d never done.

What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?

In the short amount of time that I’ve been here, this program has done so much for me. I have been able to acquire invaluable career capital from some of the brightest minds in the world, network with industry titans, and engage in loads of extracurriculars with the university. It’s been challenging at times, especially being so far away from home, but being pushed in this regard has been extremely beneficial — I wouldn’t want it any other way. This university has become a second home for me, and I’ve been fortunate enough to make friends and connections that will last a lifetime. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to attend this world-class institution and pursue my goals not only professionally but also personally here.