I first heard about the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) from a University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) Communication program advisor at USG who was visiting communication classes at Montgomery College (MC), where I was a student at the time. When I first attended MC, I knew I wanted to do something related to journalism, digital media, and public relations. I explored classes from each subject and realized that studying communications would allow me to combine all of my passions and interests into one program. After hearing that UMCP’s Communication program at USG allows students to study digital media and theories of communication, I was immediately sold!
Since becoming a student at USG, I have become leader and host of the Nine Tea Podcast, USG’s only student-led, award-winning podcast. Joining Nine Tea has allowed me to not only provide the student body with information about programs and resources provided on campus, but has also given me the opportunity to make an impact on the USG community. In addition to providing this useful information to our student body, I have been able to meet and interview so many wonderful people who make USG the community what it is. Among those I interviewed were Dr. Anne Khademian, USG’s Executive Director, and Dr. Jonathan Kandell, Director of the Center for Counseling and Consultation, along with students from other universities and programs that I may have not have met otherwise, outside of my program.
I have also had the honor of interning with USG’s Marketing and Communications office, creating content for the USG website and social media platforms, managing the social media calendar, and providing event support, including photography and live tweeting. This has allowed me to explore the “ins and outs” of how a marketing department operates, and has piqued my interest in roles I would like to take on after graduation.
I will be graduating in December 2022. Upon graduation, I hope to start my career in brand management or marketing in the automotive or public relations industry! I am grateful to have explored the avenues USG has provided me toward earning my bachelor’s degree.