Degree: BA/MS Communication ’19
Minor: Sociology minor, Writing and Publishing certificate
Co-ops:
- TV news intern, NBC10 Philadelphia
- Digital and Internal Communications, Comcast NBCUniversal
- Employee Communications, Comcast Business
Extracurricular activities: When I’m not creating or curating content, I like to roller-skate and travel.
Awards: Dean’s List, Liberty Scholarship, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Scholarship (two-time recipient)
What led you to choose your major? Was there a specific course, faculty member or experience that convinced you of your decision?
I came to Drexel knowing that I wanted to be a communication major, but I didn’t make that decision much before arriving here. About two months before beginning my freshman year, I read through Drexel’s undergraduate programs to figure out what I would major in. It wasn’t long before I decided on communication after realizing that writing, interviewing and relationship-building are the foundation of the field. Those are things that I have always loved and been naturally good at, so I knew this field would be a natural fit for me.
How has your degree program influenced your career goals?
At the heart of my decision to major in communication was a love for writing, so I decided to focus on journalism within the communication field. I soon realized, through my courses and co-op experiences, that I could do more than just become a journalist with a journalism degree. Although I still love journalism, corporate communications is my newfound love because I find the business side of media intriguing. It’s cool to follow mergers and acquisitions as they become a reality, and to have a behind-the-scenes look at new partnerships, products and movie releases. I knew that Comcast would partner with YouTube, Pandora and Netflix for its X1 Platform long before it happened — to me, that’s so cool.
What has made your experience at Drexel special or unique?
The flexible curriculum has made my experience at Drexel special. While I have always been committed to communication, I’ve loved being able to use my electives to experience other disciplines. I’ve taken courses in criminal justice, women and gender studies, biology, public health and sociology out of interest. I didn’t have to explain to anyone why I wanted to take them — I just registered and joined the class like everyone else.
The most beautiful thing about this is that I became interested in these subjects as I learned more about myself. For example, after realizing that I was an advocate for vulnerable groups, I took sociology and criminal justice courses to learn about ways that I could be involved. In a weird yet revealing way, my experience at Drexel stimulated my growth as a person.
What have you been curious about recently?
Recently, I’ve been curious about my rights as a human being. I think it’s something that people, myself included, know very little about. So, I’ve been taking a ton of ethics courses just to have a better understanding of standards and defenses, in case my rights are violated.
What advice do you have for a high school student looking for an undergraduate program?
The most important thing when committing to an undergraduate program is how committed staff and faculty are to the well-being and future of the students. Do the professors share their contacts willingly? Do the advisers push the students to their full potential? Are there an opportunities to gain both local and international experiences? The answers to those questions should guide your final decision.
