I graduated from Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Public Relations, with a minor in Digital Media. The summer before my junior year, I was a Summer Research Assistant with one of my professors, Dr. Ashley Hinck, where I helped her conduct research on political fandom and also completed my own project focused on DEI within fandom. Spring semester of junior year, I interned with my school’s communication department, and worked with my professors and peers to promote the programs and student experience. That summer, I interned with a nonprofit called Croatan Institute in communications and marketing. During the fall semester of my senior year, I was a Social Media Intern with Curiosity, a small advertising agency in Cincinnati.
After committing to Wake’s Master of Science in Management program, I developed a love for data and analytics. Combined with my prior experience and interest in marketing and communications, I focused my electives and extracurriculars on similar things. For example, I was the Communications Chair for my program’s Student Engagement Council (SEC). My journey to my first role out of graduate school was intense, but I learned so many valuable insights along the way and am so grateful to have landed when and where I did.
My advice to current students is to lean into what you love to do, and develop skills and interests in other things that can act as enhancements. I’ve always loved communications and marketing, and once I also began to like analytics, I realized the combination of those skills would be very beneficial. Additionally, I would advise you to lean on your village, and grow it as much as you can through networking and relationship building. There are so many people cheering for you, and it will give you fuel when you need it. There will be many opportunities for growth and development during your time at Wake and in the School of Business, and I urge you to lean into those. You will be so appreciative you did when you look back and see how far you’ve come.