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

I’m from Jersey City, New Jersey by way of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Before graduate school, I worked with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the State Department. However, the majority of my prior professional experience was in higher education as an admissions counselor.

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

A former schoolmate, who’s a current Foreign Service Officer, recommended I look into Annenberg’s Master of Public Diplomacy, and I’m grateful for his nudge. The program was unique, applicable to my future career goal, and interesting. I was interested in more courses than the degree required. Visiting the campus helped solidify my decision to enroll. I met with the program director, spoke with several students about their experiences, and attended a few classes. I was impressed by Annenberg’s facilities and the overall campus. The southern California weather also played a role in my decision as I strongly dislike the cold!

What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?

I’ve most enjoyed the expertise of my faculty members. They bring a wealth of insight from their decades of experience in the field of public diplomacy. In one of our foundation courses where we would present a new public diplomacy campaign almost every week, I always looked forward to the detailed, practical feedback after the presentation. My professors also have countless stories from the field that serve as real-world examples of the concepts taught in class. “When I was the Public Affairs Officer in...” is often the start of a real-world example I know will be applicable in the future.