Master of Communication Studies

USU’s Master of Communication Studies program helped refine my capacity to engage with complex issues, comprehend divergent points of view, and craft resonate messages for diverse audiences. I’ve enjoyed translating those capacities into various professional settings, including working as a drama and improvisation teacher and as a content writer for a mental health and technology company called Impact Suite. Most recently, I’ve had the privilege of working for the Arbinger Institute, a globally-recognized organization in the field of leadership development and cultural transformation. At Arbinger, I was tasked with writing a new edition of the book Leadership and Self-Deception. It was both thrilling and daunting to be trusted with updating a business best-seller that has sold 3 million copies in over 30 different languages. The rich experiences I had at USU deeply informed my approach to that project, and also provided me with intellectual habits, a communicative skill set, and a supportive community that I continue to rely on. 

As a current Ph.D. Candidate at Colorado State University, Utah State University’s Communication Studies master’s program prepared me for the rigors of doctoral work. Not only does the program foster an environment for individual exploration and research, but it also challenges graduate students by offering courses where they will explore complex readings, develop strong writing abilities, and grapple with diverse perspectives.

My current research investigates the power of rhetorical and cultural resistance at the intersection of public memory, identity, and activism. This builds upon my master’s thesis, which resulted in a publication titled “The Collective Double Voice: Mobilizing Resistance While Stifling Racial Violence in the Silent Protest Parade” in the Southern Communication Journal. Ultimately, USU’s Communication Studies graduate program excels at supporting its graduates, whether they pursue careers in academia or industry.

The Communication Studies graduate program at Utah State gave me invaluable experience that has shaped so much of my professional life, as well as the way I approach the world in general. In my current role as a lecturer at Utah Valley University, I teach various courses on foundational principles of communication, work on curriculum design, and mentor students.  The program at Utah State prepared me for this not only by offering hands-on teaching experience, but also by maintaining an intentional focus on pedagogy and leadership, which continues to have daily impact on how I approach my classrooms. Additionally, the program taught me how to ask the right questions, which has helped me immensely in my current position as well as in my previous role as a proposal analyst. Overall, the time I spent studying communication theories and their development positively shaped how I see the world, how I approach problems, and how I interact with others.