Communication Department Student Spotlight

The Communication Department has the ultimate advising program. Students can seek advising from their professional advisors, but they can also see peer advisors during drop-in hours for help. The team of peer advisors has a mission of giving Comm students one-on-one support to students who have any interests, challenges, or questions regarding school. Peer advisors have the value of being able to draw upon their own experiences as students to support students who are going through experiences of their own. They also host events and mentor first-year students who are transitioning into UMass. This year’s peer advisors make a special team of 13 peer advisors, with eleven seniors and two juniors. Molly, Kelly, Sam, Katie N. Andrea, Kevin, Jessica, Emily, Jami, Katie D and Alana will be missed greatly by the Communication Department!

Molly McCourt

 Molly transferred to UMass after attending school at Fitchburg State and has managed to graduate in 3 years with a degree in Communication! Last summer, she interned for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston, Massachusetts working closely with Assistant District Attorney in the Superior Court. This semester, Molly had a similar experience at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office in Greenfield as a Victim Witness Services Intern. She has gained a lot of skill and knowledge in these positions that will help direct her to the career path of her interest. Molly always had a smile on her face and was extremely supportive of advisees who went through a non-traditional college experience!

Kelly Del Sorbo

 Kelly is leaving UMass with a passion for all of the ways she has gotten involved. She studied abroad in Spain for a semester, picked up a double major in economics, taken part in three different communication-related internships, joined Alpha Epsilon Phi, participated in Alternative Spring Break, and worked in the admissions department. She believes that she has made all of her closest friends through these positions. Upon graduation, Kelly is planning on going back to her home in New York for the summer to figure out what might be the next chapter in her life. Always friendly and smiley, Kelly brought warmth and welcome to every student that stepped foot in the peer advising office!

Andrea Lee 

Andrea has experienced a little taste of everything at UMass. She is a member of Sigma Delta Tau, works at the Rec Center, and studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain. For every semester at UMass she has been awarded Dean’s List and was recently invited to join Phi Beta Kappa. Last summer, she interned at Trip Advisor in Needham, Massachusetts. Post-graduation Andrea does not have set plans yet, but she hopes to pursue a position at Trip Advisor because of the experience she had during her internship. Andrea’s ambition and willingness to work with others was always evident through her work as a peer advisor, and will carry on those characteristics in all of the places she will go!

Sam Ng

Sam is a student who has really taken advantage of all of the extracurriculars that UMass has to offer. In her four years, she has been a part of the Rotaract and Isenberg Marketing Clubs, the executive board of the Asian American Student Association, and the Isenberg peer advising team. She is also the president of her sorority, Kappa Phi Lambda, has served as a Peer Advisor for Residential Life in Southwest, interned for TJX Corporation, and has studied abroad in London where she completed a marketing/PR internship there. After graduation she is actually planning on working at TJX starting in July and her goal is to move up to a full-blown buyer position within five years. She also plans on staying around Massachusetts so that she is close to her family. As a peer advisor she has demonstrated all of the ways in which her experiences at UMass can support other students, and made anyone leaving the advising office feeling comfortable and confident!

Kevin Castiglioni 

Kevin has made a lasting impact on the students he has encountered throughout the years. His roles and positions have strengthened communities across campus. He has been an RA for three years for first-year students, he’s the recognition chair and president of National Residence Hall Honorary, has been involved with Stonewall Center Pride Alliance, the Out of the Darkness walk, WMUA, RA council, Orchard Hill Area Government, House council, and the Of the Year Awards Committee. He values his roles in residential life and would like to continue that after graduation. Kevin will be attending Rutgers University to work as a Hall Director and get a graduate degree in College Student Affairs. His kind and compassionate attitude make every peer (past, present, and future) lucky to have him around!

Katie Naylor

Katie was a peer advisor for the Communication Department for one and a half years. Despite graduating from UMass a semester early, the time that she did spend in the office was immeasurable. She double majored in Communication and Psychology with a minor in Education. While at UMass, she got involved in Sisters on the Runway, which raises awareness for domestic violence and supports a local shelter. Last summer she studied abroad on the Oxford Summer Seminar taking classes called the History of Oxford and, Children, Teens and Media. Katie is currently applying for paraprofessional teaching positions. No matter where she ends up, though, she feels confident in her education and skills. With an optimistic attitude about what the world has in store for her and for others, Katie was always an encouraging and fully supportive advisor for anyone who came into the office!

Jessica Williams

 Jessica knows every in and out of the UMass campus. Whether it’s school policies or information about specific buildings, Jessica knows it all. Aside from being a peer advisor, Jessica’s involvement has prepared for advising and her own career pathways. She has interned for the Democracy Fund, PBS, WGBH and Cape Ann TV. She also worked at UMass as an Office of News & Media Production Assistant, Research Fellow and a Program Office Assistant for the Fine Arts Center. Jessica has been involved in SGA, the Red Cross Club, MASSPIRG, and the RHA House Programming Board, too. Her well-roundedness and belief in other students to succeed has been a huge help to advisees.

Emily Thompson 

Emily is a familiar face for many students around campus, as her involvement has had an impact inside and outside of the peer advising office. She is leaving UMass with a double major in Public Health and Communication and an Economics minor. On campus she has served as a Communication peer advisor for two years, as a tour guide and she has given a speech to thousands of prospective UMass students at the Mullins Center on Accepted Students Day. For the past four years, she has been a member of Sigma Kappa and been involved in UDance. Last summer, she had the opportunity of working at Boston Children’s Hospital. After graduation, she is planning on starting her job at Oracle in July. Her skills in all of these different areas along with her humble and charismatic personality made a real presence in the office that will be greatly missed next year!

Jami Dunn 

Jami is a role model for any students pursuing Communication at UMass. She’s been involved in Iota Gamma Upsilon since her freshman year – holding positions from PR chair to VP of Communication to President her junior year. Along with her sorority, she’s worked at the Arts Center as an usher and for their marketing department. She’s been a contributor in the Daily Collegian and was involved with area government when she lived on campus, too. After graduation, Jami would like to chill and travel for a bit, and in the meantime, she’s applying to jobs in human resources and marketing. Down the road, she is interested in graduate school or law school, but would like to get some work experience under her belt first. In the office, Jami would inspire students to make the most of their work in communication, just as she did!

Katie Dube

 Katie always sparks the combination of adventurous and caring; she looks to bring out the best in others. At UMass, she has been a participant, co-leader and coordinator for Alternative Spring Break. She has served as an RA for the Elm/Linden cluster for two years. Katie has participated in Nostras Voces and Vagina Monologues as well as intern as a production assistant for the Media Education Foundation, in which she did media collection and outreach for Sut Jhally’s most recent Documentary, “Occupation of the American Mind.” Katie has been recognized for her work as a writer in the Communication Department’s Student Showcase, where she got placed for her collection, “Chronicles of Ruby: Excerpts of Radiant Dysfunction and Vulnerability.” After graduation, Katie plans on going back home to Salem, Massachusetts to “hibernate” with her mother, and will start looking to apply for advising positions. She hopes to eventually receive a master in higher education and possibly go on to a PhD in Communication with the goal of being a professor some day. It is clear that Katie has left an impression on all of her peers in the Communication department and would like to pay it forward to others through education in the future!

 Alana Craven

Alana has been an incredible facet to the Peer Advising team. Outside of peer advising, she has had three internships that have supported her work as a Communication major. Her internships include: PR assistant for Regan Communications, communications for the Joslin Diabetes Center, and online content for WPRO 630 Radio. On campus Alana has been an assistant editor for Jabberwocky, a yearly campus literary journal, as well as being a minute mover. All of Alana’s advisees were lucky to have her dedicated support and great sense of humor in the office!

If you would like to send a good-bye message to any of the graduating Peer Advisors, email askcomm@umass.edu and include the name of the peer advisor in the subject!

Written by Emma Tavolieri

“As the years go by and I meet more people, I realize that I’m a part of something bigger” says Jerry Alonzo, a junior Communication major, about his time here at UMass. Every student starts with a blank slate upon arrival at UMass. Jerry entered UMass his freshman year with a blank slate, but has he has built up a list of experiences that have helped shape his interests and potential career paths since then. Along with his minors in Resource Economics and Spanish, Jerry has held positions in WMUA, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Mass Music. These organizations have given him valuable skills that may not have been gained directly in the classroom. They also allow him to give back to the UMass community, from which he feels he has benefitted a lot.

Junior year seems to be a year that shines for Jerry. Last fall, he joined WMUA, UMass’ widely popular radio station. After meetings and DJ training, Jerry became an official DJ for the station. He hosts a live show, Audio Odyssey, on Friday mornings from 6am-8am with co-host and friend, Aidan Richards, a junior Communication and Marketing double-major. The duo aims to have a new sound every week, where listeners are be able to discover music that they may not typically listen to. WMUA creates community in a number of ways, according to Jerry. “WMUA allows you to break from your shell and meet people you otherwise would have never met.” Music seems to be the key component in a valuable bonding experience for Jerry. Along with his colleagues who work at the radio station, Jerry feels that he is able to connect to his own listeners. Jerry is in a position where his voice can be heard by tens, hundreds, or thousands of people at once, which is very unique. One of his most recent call-ins was from someone working at a local bakery during the early hours of the morning. With WMUA, he has been able to make connections on and off the air that have helped him develop as a radio host, public speaker, and mass communicator.

On top of his gig with the radio station, Jerry has demonstrated his leadership capabilities as the treasurer of the National Society of Leadership and Success chapter here at UMass. The National Society of Leadership and Success, or, NSLS, is a group of nominated students who come together to design and express personal goals with other chapter members. Jerry’s role, as treasurer, is to oversee finances and fundraise. With his role, he has gotten used to public speaking, as well as collaborating with a tight knit team on an executive board. Jerry also participates in the monthly meetings, in which he shares his own and listens to other goals with fellow NSLS members. The giving and receiving of feedback has help him and his colleagues stick to their goals and develop leadership skills.

Jerry has displayed his innovative and entrepreneur side with his efforts in co-creating (alongside juniors Steven Bowe, Shamus Hill, and Aidan Richards) an organization at UMass called Mass Music. Mass Music “encourages and provides experience and guidance for young artists and music enthusiasts.” Basically, this organization is for anyone who has interest in music in any way, shape or form, and it’s open to everyone. Since Mass Music was just created last semester, a lot of the weekly gatherings are dedicated to further building the organization and its membership, but the organization also provides a meeting space for students to share and discuss their appreciation of music. Jerry serves as the treasurer, where he is responsible for helping fundraise and manage finances. Teamwork is a valuable skill Jerry has utilized in the process of co-creating this organization. It involves a lot of responsibility and active work to make progress in an organization that is so new, but Jerry’s ideas and leadership have helped further the group, and he’s having fun while he’s at it!

Collaboration in the community seems to be a common theme in Jerry’s work. He actively looks for opportunities to become a part of the community himself, but also seeks ways for others to get involved. When asked what his ideal career would be, Jerry says he would love to work at a broadcasting station like WGBH, or become voice narrator. Whatever he decides to do, Jerry says he owes a great deal to UMass and his family, for all of the success and support he has had as a student thus far. UMass owes a lot to Jerry to his ability to strengthen the school’s community. Jerry passes the success and support forward to his colleagues, peers, co-hosts, listeners, and friends, which strengthen the UMass community.

Written by Emma Tavolieri

Every individual is responsible for writing their own history. Senior Joseph Kerlin-Smith has quite the history and continues to write his story in an impactful way. He does this by helping others create stories of their own. Joseph Kerlin-Smith is a “non-traditional” student here at UMass Amherst. He transferred to UMass after getting an Associates Degree in Business from Greenfield Community College, and prior to that, Kerlin-Smith was part of the military for over nine years. His service to the country and the community is something to be recognized.

Kerlin-Smith joined the Marine Corps right after he graduated high school in 2007. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, for four years where he developed a brotherhood with his fellow marines. After doing tours in Iraq in 2009, and in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011, Kerlin-Smith got out in 2011 to pursue higher education. He then joined the Reserves in 2012 and just finished his service about a month ago to focus on graduation and career after UMass. He is not sure he wants to do with his role in the military.

Kerlin-Smith continues his story by pursuing higher education. In addition to providing him with an Associates Degree in Business, Greenfield Community College provided Kerlin-Smith the opportunity to intern for Senator Bernie Sanders. A Vermont native himself, Kerlin-Smith struck the Sanders internship as a program Coordinator for the Senator’s Small Business Export Program. He wanted to provide his marketing skills to business owners who didn’t necessarily know how to market themselves strategically and connect with the appropriate state and federal exporting agencies.

Upon arrival at UMass, Kerlin-Smith knew he wanted to study Communication because it was interesting to him. When he first got here, he was a worried he would feel lost and unsupported at such a large school. Immediately, though, Kerlin-Smith was drawn to the sense of community that the Communication Department at UMass provides. To him, the faculty is always approachable and in-touch, and the ILC feels like home base. Among the professors who have impacted him are: Alison Butler, who runs the Comm Club; Lynn Phillips, who has been an outlet for Kerlin-Smith when he needs it; and Erica Scharrer, his media violence professor. Right now, Kerlin-Smith is a big fan of his media violence class, as Scharrer and her students tackle educating young students about media violence by taking it to local elementary classrooms. Proactively being a member of a community is something Kerlin-Smith is passionate about. Kerlin-Smith also feels passionate about one of his professors, in particular, Kimberlee Perez. She has served as a great mentor for him and is always open to talking to him about academic and personal life. Her class, Performance and Politics of Race, has greatly impacted his personal life and how he interacts with others. Kerlin-Smith learns what he can from others and, in return, teaches what he can to others.

Along with his classes at UMass, Kerlin-Smith has been active in other fields on campus. He worked at the UPub as a bartender. Last summer Kerlin-Smith spent his days doing data research and defense contracting for a lobbying company in Washington D.C.. He got the job by networking; several people he networked with are veterans themselves. The primary reason he wanted to work in D.C. was to network, but he found that he may want to get a job as congressional staff. Networking is something Kerlin-Smith seems to be particularly good at. He says he has never had a resume because he has never needed one. Most of his jobs and career choices come from opportunities that have come his way through building relationships with others.

Currently, Kerlin-Smith is a part of the Student Government Association as a senator and committee member and a member of the Comm Club, and he has served on number of committees like hiring the Associate Provost of Student Success and the Chancellor’s Undergrad Advising Committee.

One of Kerlin-Smith’s most involved and personal extracurriculars at UMass is working for the Veterans Service. With the Veterans Service, Kerlin-Smith has a goal of building a bridge between the general campus community and veterans on campus. It can be a challenge closing this gap, but ultimately, raising awareness about veterans on campus is a goal that Kerlin-Smith strives for. Most veterans are non-traditional college students, according to Kerlin-Smith. He says, “they don’t get out of class and then go to their dorms; a lot of them leave class and then go pick up their kids, go straight to work, or commute back home.” He also says that the members of the Veterans Service like to get together on Thursdays for Trivia Night at the UPub, because for a lot of these students, it is the one time of the week they can spend getting together to have fun.  Along with raising awareness about veterans more generally, Kerlin-Smith emphasizes raising awareness for female veterans.

For Veterans Service, Kerlin-Smith has helped put together a “Warrior’s Breakfast” where non-veteran students and student-veterans gathered for breakfast and conversation. In collaboration with Veterans Service and the Chancellor’s office, he put together the first resume panel for veterans on campus and he is hoping the panel will continue after he leaves UMass. In the military, the idea of camaraderie is instilled into all troops and their units. In a way, Kerlin-Smith is recreating this camaraderie on campus at UMass. He has spoken in front of several UMass athletic teams about the importance of teamwork and making smart decisions. Looking forward in the semester, Kerlin-Smith and the Veteran’s Service are putting together a Patriot’s Day Obstacle Course in which the campus community can partake in a fun event while the campus is raising awareness about veterans.

In the future, Kerlin-Smith sees himself working a job that has to do with public service. His plan right now is to continue looking for jobs with federal law enforcement, possibly working for the Massachusetts State Police. Kerlin-Smith is wrapping up his time at UMass as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the SGA. He has left his impression at UMass for the past two years and will continue to leave his impression on his involvements ahead.

Written by Emma Tavolieri

Higher education is an excellent opportunity to develop socially and academically; the experience of college can shape what the future holds. According to Junior Communication major, Alex Hagani, what you do in college is just as valuable as what you do after college. Hagani is the creator of a mockumentary television series, Boys to Men, that highlights the adventures of two roommates and their time spent here at UMass. The award-winning show has been wildly successful within the Communication Department and across campus, as its 48 minute pilot episode has over 2,500 views. Along with creating Boys to Men, Hagani is a director, producer, actor, editor and promoter of the show. The mini-series is a project that requires teamwork from other students, as the cast and crew is mostly comprised of fellow Communication majors at UMass. Hagani’s vision of Boys to Men turned into a reality, and has allowed dozens of students to get involved with the show, by utilizing and bringing out the best qualities of his peers.

Coming into college, Alex knew he wanted to pursue film. After deliberating between a film school in California and UMass, the New York City native decided that UMass was the school that would best suit his interests and goals with film. Western Massachusetts is quite the move from New York City, but upon arrival to campus, Hagani managed to make a home of his own at Cance Hall, in Southwest.

It all started with a RAP. RAP stands for Residential Academic Program; it’s a program where students who have some interest in a specific academic area or theme get to live on the same floor and take one class together. The RAP that Alex was a part of, located in Cance Hall, was for first year students interested in Communication. He believed that joining a RAP would be a great chance for him to really take ownership of his first-year experience. It was during this class time and time spent with his floormates that he knew he could make magic happen. One of the standout members of the Communication RAP in Cance Hall was Alex’s roommate, Ran Levgoren, a 23 year old student who was just starting school after serving for the Israeli military. Alex and Ran got along very well and filled their first weeks at UMass together with lots of shenanigans. It was their connection that sparked the initial idea for Boys to Men.

Hagani had the idea to make a mockumentary of their lives, but he had to be creative with the style of the show, as he didn’t necessarily have the freedom of versatility with tools or finances (after all, he was just a freshman in college). The filming approach that he took is similar to the style of Trailer Park Boys or The Office – minimalistic in terms of film technique, but very clever in content.

Along with optimizing students and tools at UMass, professors have had a large influence on the show. Alex took a 500-level course in Communication titled ‘Advanced Video Production Workshop,’ where Professor Kevin Anderson helped develop ideas and techniques for future episodes. In this class, Hagani had the opportunity to use the classroom and work alongside co-writers, Alexa Rockwell and Jill Webb, to create and edit the third episode of the show. According to Alex, “‘ Advanced Video Production Workshop’ was an unorthodox class that felt very professional.” The ability to network and collaborate in the school setting has been the general basis of the show and Hagani’s ethics.

Professor Anderson’s support lead to Hagani’s nomination for the Michael S. Roif Award in Film Studies for “Exceptional Creativity and Accomplishment presented to Undergraduate Certificate Students in the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies.” Boys to Men came in second place.

Assistance from Amherst Media was huge for the show as well. As an intern for Amherst Media, Alex’s job is to continue making the show. He says that they wanted to help out with the show since the moment he walked in the doors.

While Alex is well known for his work with Boys to Men, he pursues Communication in other ways, too. Last year, Hagani starred in a proof of concept trailer for Running Embers. After being encouraged by Professor Kevin Anderson (the producer of the trailer and film) to audition, Hagani tried out for the role, and got it. The point of this trailer was to show what a movie would be like if the got proper funding for a feature-length film.  He would film several days a week, early in the morning or late at night, for about two months. This experience helped Alex develop as an actor, as the filming was intense and emotional.

Hagani is currently working on a long term semester assignment for Professor Marty Norden’s class ‘Screenwriting.’ With the guidance from Professor Norden, Hagani has created a screenplay. He believes the class and Norden’s support has taught him new ways to write long-form stories. The original plan was for Hagani to study abroad to South Africa and make his screenplay come to life. Now, instead of South Africa, Hagani will be studying abroad in Australia next semester. He’ll be studying a full film program at the University of Technology, Sydney. Hagani is hoping to continue his screenplay somewhere in the future; perhaps Australia.

Alex is concerned about other’s pursuits. Empowerment from one student to another is the best way to show how care and compassion can promote a community. One of the strongest pieces of advice that Hagani has made is that “the puzzle piece of college is making everything work.” He can make this statement coming from the position as a team player. He wants to look back at his college career and do everything he could have possibly done, because college provides free time and opportunities to do anything. By working together with peers and professors, Hagani has managed to tailor his college experience to bringing out the best of himself, while bringing out the best of others.

Written by Emma Tavolieri

Transferring schools may not be the easiest process, but it can have high rewards for a college student who is looking for change. The intent of transferring schools is to find a school that suits a student and their interests better than the school they currently attend. Once a student gets accepted to a new school, they have to get acclimated to a different campus, different faculty, and different students. Chloe Trepanier, a junior at UMass Amherst majoring in Communication, is a transfer student from UMass Boston who demonstrates the transfer experience and all of it’s perks.

Chloe made the choice to apply to UMass Amherst after her first year of school at UMass Boston. She studied Communication there, but was not in love with any of the classes offered, as most of the Communication classes focused on interpersonal communication. UMass Boston is also a commuter school, so she spent very little time on campus and would usually go home straight after class. Chloe realized she needed a change based off of her interests and convenience, so she sent in an application to UMass Amherst.

Getting into UMass Amherst was the start of a whole new college experience for Chloe. She settled into Butterfield, a Sophomore dorm in Central, where she connected with old friends from high school and made new friends there, too. She says the move initially reminded her of being a freshman again. It seems as though it didn’t take long for Chloe to get the hang of her new school. Some of the first steps she took to get more involved with the Amherst area and campus life at UMass was going to the Activities Expo, checking out the Campus Pulse, and browsing Career Connect.  

Chloe struck her first internship at Amherst Media through UMass’ Career Services resource, Career Connect. She saw that they were looking for a social media intern, so she took a chance, applied, and got the gig. With Amherst Media, she is responsible for getting stories, news, and events that are happening in Amherst and pushing that information out using social media to reach other media users. She interprets the analytics of the posts to get a better understanding about their audience. Occasionally, she is also asked to make footage for the company which gets played on public access. This internship has provided Chloe opportunities to explore various paths to take with Communication, as well as given her the chance to get creative with making media.

Along with her internship at Amherst Media, Chloe makes Facebook posts for UMass’ newspaper, the Daily Collegian. Posting for the Collegian’s Facebook has provided her with answers to the question, “I want this to be seen, how do I do that?” Despite her major in Communication, working for the Collegian’s social media infuses Communication, Journalism, and Marketing. Some of the skills she’s gained through this are: ways to develop professional and clever posts, represent a program and their interests, and ability to analyze the viewership of posts. What makes Chloe’s story interesting is that she started as a writer for the Collegian in the Arts and Living section. She went to one of their staff meetings at the beginning of the semester and heard there was an opening for a social media assistant. This was another time where Chloe took advantage of an opportunity to match her interests with her career goals.

Chloe furthers her skills in Communication as the Pinterest Director for Her Campus, an online magazine directed towards female college students. As Pinterest Director, she posts articles and writes for them. It requires a lot of time and high quality content, but Chloe has been working for Her Campus for over a year now. This job has even given her the chance to go to New York for a Her Campus conference. Traveling is an excellent opportunity to explore what a field or job may look like outside of the university “bubble.”

Communication is such a versatile major, and Chloe’s skills in Communication shine in areas outside of the classroom. She’s a part of the theater guild at UMass Amherst as the Assistant Tech Director. With this she helps out with sound, lighting, costumes, and coordination for UMass productions, including the recent production of Frankenstein. The beauty of being a part of the theater guild is all of the relationships she has developed with others in the theater guild community. A program like the theater guild allows students of all majors to utilize their best skills to collaborate on one performance, and Chloe definitely brings a strong set of skills to the table. Chloe has found that UMass Amherst makes it easier to find and make connections based off of interests because of all of the various ways to get involved.

With the repertoire that Chloe has, it seems as though she can go into all sorts of career paths. When asked what her dream job would be, though, Chloe has aspirations of working in the publishing industry, specifically with magazines. She wants to work “behind the scenes” by marketing and generating content using social media for a magazine company. If not magazines, she would be interested in the production of a television show doing technical work. For the rest of her time at UMass Amherst, Chloe hopes to utilize everything that the Communication department has to offer, like the Cage, the production studio, variation in classes, and collaboration with other Communication majors. Through trying new things, setting goals, and making new connections, Chloe has been able to shape potential career paths that suit her interests and skills with Communication.

Written by Emma Tavolieri

A leader is someone who utilizes their strengths to make a difference in the lives of others. Marla Friedson, a junior majoring in Communication and Journalism with a film certificate, demonstrates what is means to be a leader in the Communication department and beyond. After taking classes and gaining insight through her internship and travel experiences, Marla has gotten a feel for what her greatest strengths and passions are. She has a gift for producing and editing film, as well as communicating to the masses through social media. Even though Friedson does not have a set-in-stone pathway about what she wants her career to be specifically, she acknowledges that media is a powerful tool to provoke emotion, and she would like to use this power to make the world a better place.

In high school, Marla was exposed to her first film production class. This class led her to a potential interest in film production, so she tested the waters with her classes at UMass. She had taken a production class with the Communication department and found her niche. The combination of majoring in both Communication and Journalism provides a complementary overlap with production, says Friedson. Her Communication classes gave her tips about filming, like the importance of blank space in a shot for example. Journalism gave her some of her first experiences with a camera, and taught her how to use one.

Once Marla discovered her strong appeal for film production, she got an internship with the distribution and sales department for Prudential Financial Life Insurance. She was concentrated within the sales training department, in which she was responsible for making videos of the company’s top performers that would help train and recruit new salespeople. This experience was influential in the development of Marla’s potential career path; she got to see what it was like to work for a corporate company, as well as what it was like to travel for work. During her time with Prudential Financial Life Insurance, the company flew her to Chicago and Florida to create her training videos. Marla’s experience with this internship helped her realize that she might be more interested in media with the entertainment industry, and a job like this would be more of a backup plan than a lifetime passion.

Traveling has made an impact on Marla’s experiences beyond just the workforce; She got the chance to go on her birthright trip to Israel this summer. During her time there, she took videos, and made a captivating short film to highlight the incredible trip she had. It was the first “real” video she made on her own. Click here to view her video.

Within the UMass community, she has impacted multiple organizations with her outreach skills. She does public relations work for her sorority, Alpha Epsilon Phi, and she served as Vice President of Communication on the PanHellenic Council for Greek Life at UMass. Friedson works for the e-board of UMass For The Kids, a chapter under “Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” which is an organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals. She has also run the social media for UMass SAFI, the Student Alliance For Israel. During her first year at UMass, Marla got involved in a popular television show here on campus, Boys to Men. She believes Boys to Men represents how a small idea can turn into something big.

Looking forward, Friedson wants to apply for an internship with NBC this summer to continue to get a sense of what different career paths may be like. With NBC, she is hoping to gain more experience with broadcast news, film production and television production. Internships and other work experience are so valuable with a degree in Communication, or any degree in general. Her dream job would be to work for a big time television show, or make movies on her own. Although Marla has a general idea of her best interests and strengths, she continues to try new positions, companies, and roles to get a better idea about what is out there. With her strengths for positivity and opening new doors, Marla demonstrates what it means to be a leader in the Communication community.

Written by Emma Tavolieri

Know someone who deserves to be recognized for their achievements in the Communication Department? Make a nomination by clicking on this link to fill out a short nomination form!

Communication has a very versatile academic focus; the critical skills that the major equips its students with prepare them for success in a wide range of disciplines and career paths. Junior Selin Uzumcu is the model Communication major, pairing it with a dual degree in Political Science and an International Relations Certificate. Uzumcu aspires to work in international affairs, employing her first-hand experiences of being a first generation student of Turkish origin and fluency in four languages to advocate for a variety of social issues abroad.

Speaking with Selin about her life is like embarking on a tour of the entire globe; born in Los Angeles, she and her sister would travel to Turkey every year to visit her relatives. In the eighth grade, she enrolled in an International School in Argentina, learning Spanish while studying alongside the children of diplomats, policymakers, and other world leaders. It was throughout this time that Selin’s passion for international affairs really grew, specifically concerning gender equality, refugee rights, and equal access to education. “Spending so much time in Turkey, I gained a first hand understanding of the institutionalized sexism that pervades throughout the Middle East”, she reflects. “I want to bring about a change to improve the standard of living for women in the region”.

An ambitious student with a dedicated drive to succeed, Selin has used her past three years at UMass to pursue numerous opportunities and avenues to gain practical exposure in international affairs. She has been a member of the UMass Women Into Leadership Program for the past year, which is an organization that provides professional development and networking opportunities for accomplished female scholars. Through the WLS, Uzumcu has begun working with a mentor who works at the United Nations, who has provided her with invaluable guidance and insight into her ideal career path. In addition to this, she is actively involved with the International Relations Club, National Political Science Honor Society, and Model United Nations.

I asked Selin what geared her towards the communication major, to which she explained that it was the interpersonal aspect of comm that sparked her interest. “My comm courses provided me with an in-depth understanding of social cues and global conventions, which is an essential set of expertise when working abroad”, says Uzumcu. Having always been passionate about having her voice heard, Selin reflected on Professor Joel Saxe’s Comm 397: Youth, Democracy, and the Entertainment Industry as her favorite comm class. “All of our lectures were student driven, which gave us an active role in what material we studied and how we interacted with it.”

At the same time, Selin’s talents extend beyond international affairs. Along with her mother and sister, she is the co-founder of a real estate business called The Three Musketeers, which specializes in purchasing homes, renovating them and selling them for a higher price. In order to make a profit on each venture, the company must find cheaper alternatives to buying new store materials, so Selin has developed an innovative sense of saving money by networking with contractors and seeking out economical substitute materials. Outside of academics, she lives the typical LA lifestyle including hiking, working out, going to the beach and photography, but also enjoys going skiing. “That’s the beauty of California!” she says, “I can go to the beach one afternoon, and then drive two hours away and ski on beautiful white slopes”.

For her summer plans, Selin is pursuing a wide variety of impressive internship opportunities, including the US Department of State in Foreign Services in DC and the State House in Boston. After graduation, she hopes to move to New York City and attend New York University’s School of Law. Selin is committed to instilling a positive impact on the world, and through her love of adventure and innate ability to adapt to new countries and cultures, it is only a matter of time before she is gracing the cover of TIME Magazine, in recognition of her remarkable efforts to provide quality education to underprivileged regions of the world.