Celebrating Returning Adult Learners and Their Unique Journeys
A post curated by the Women’s Center’s Program Coordinator, Jane DeHitta
At the end of every semester, the Women’s Center hosts a Graduation + End of the Year celebration for all of the Scholars + Affiliates in the Returning Adult Learners Program. (Read on to see a list of our graduating RAL Scholars) This event is a special tradition in the Women’s Center with its intentions rooted in creating celebratory space for both our continuing and graduating returning adult learners who are UMBC students seeking their first undergraduate degree.
These students are called “returning” because they often have various circumstances that have kept them from what our popular culture deems as a traditional college path and they are now “returning” to college to pursue their degree. Student scholars in this program not only receive scholarships to help financially supplement their tuition, but also benefit from tailored support and programming from Women’s Center staff through individualized meetings, programs, and events that meet the specific needs of older students on campus. Affiliate Scholars are also an important part of our program and community (and if you’re interested in joining, reach out to the Women’s Center!).
For the last few years, our pinning ceremony has been held over virtual calls, with graduating students receiving their pins in the mail prior to the event so that they can “pin” themselves on camera before sharing what it means to them to have reached their goal. This year, we had our first in-person RAL End of the Year Celebration since the lockdown, and it was a delight to welcome our scholars + affiliates into the Women’s Center space, joined by our newly inaugurated president, Dr, Sheares Ashby, and our new Women’s Center director, Lauren Allen, as well as representatives from the Newcombe Foundation and other campus members.
I have now had the honor of working with the RAL program for the last two years and it is always such a joy to come together and celebrate these students and to give them space to celebrate themselves. During our time, Dr. Sheares-Ashby eagerly asked each of our adult learners to share about themselves–What are you studying? What made you come back to school? What do you want to do after you have graduated? Hearing their stories always reminds me that no matter where you are in life or what you have been through, it is never too late to come back, change paths, or pursue something new. Adult Learners enrich our UMBC community and we are so happy for our students who are one step closer to completing their goal.
ID: Dr. Sheares-Ashby listening to RAL students sharing their stories
ID: RAL community gather in the Women’s Center Lounge to reflect on the past year
ID: RAL Scholars + Affiliates with Women’s Center Pro Staff and Newcombe Scholar Representatives stand together smiling
ID: RAL Scholars + Affiliates with Women’s Center Pro Staff, Dr. Sheares-Ashby, OIA and Newcombe Scholar Representatives gather together smiling at the camera
And now, it is with great joy and pride that I invite you to join me in celebrating these fantastic students and their accomplishments. Below are this year’s (Spring ’23 & Fall ’22) graduating Returning Adult Learner Scholars who in their own words* share what they were involved in at UMBC, what’s next for them after UMBC, and advice they wanted to share with other adult learners.
Megan Curtiss – Environmental Science & Geography BS, Spring ’23
What were you involved in at UMBC and/or what was your experience like as an adult learner? Working full time and going to school full time has certainly been a challenging experience. I was hopeful that as long as I continued to put one foot in front of the other and focus on what needed to be accomplished today, I could reach my goal of graduating. When I first transferred to UMBC, I had no idea what kind of resources were available to students or how to navigate the college experience as someone older than all of my classmates. There was a bit of a learning curve for me, but after talking to different people (classmates, professors, advisors, etc)about their own experiences I started to get a better idea of how I wanted to spend my time while at UMBC. A suggestion during an RAL mid-semester check-in prompted me to reach out to some of the professors in my department about possible research opportunities that I could become involved with. Sending a quick email and asking that question about research on campus allowed me to spend a lot of this time in my final semester before graduating gaining research and practical field experience that I can include on my resume. It has also given me the chance to develop my networking skills and strengthen my ability to represent myself professionally in my field.
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? I don’t have concrete plans just yet. I am giving myself a little time to breath before really commiting to my next steps. I have considered grad school and have been applying to jobs and internships in my field. I am waiting to see what opportunities present themselves over the coming months instead of stressing myself out over timelines of when things SHOULD happen. However, to celebrate completing my undergraduate degree, I have two trips planned for the upcoming months! I am going to go to Nevada for a week in June and Costa Rica for 10 days in September. So, I am very excited to get to travel and just enjoy life for a moment.
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? My advice for current Returning Adult Learners is to utilize the resources within this program and at the university in general. I was intimidated by my lack of understanding when it came to how college ‘worked’. For example, I wasn’t sure how people got involved in research on campus and a conversation in my mid-semester check in provided the insight that it’s as simple as sending an email to a few people in your department and asking. Building relationships with professors and advisors is also a great asset. My experience has been that most of my professors want to see their students succeed. Cultivating those relationships helps in a lot of ways – from having academic references, letters of recommendation, or just being able to ask for help when you need it in a particular class.
What else do you want to share? It’s okay to work at your own pace. I struggled (and still do at times) with thinking I needed to rush through this process and that I am running out of time to accomplish my goals. By being so focused on reaching the finish line, it’s easy to miss out on the moments that can really shape and define the experience. Also, be patient with yourself! There were semesters where I knew the course load for specific classes would be heavier and going part time would be the best choice so I could devote the time I needed to be successful and maintain my responsibilities outside of school and my mental health. Everyone’s journey is different.
Kristy – Biological Sciences BA, Spring ’23
What were you involved in at UMBC and/or what was your experience like as an adult learner? I had a lot of worries and anxiety when stepping back into a classroom setting but knowing that there were programs like RAL and the Women’s Center made the reset so much easier. The support and friendships that I’ve had throughout my time at UMBC will always be so cherished!
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? I’m in the interview process for a data scientist position for the DoD, so fingers crossed that pans out.
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? I think a lot of us are familiar with carrying more weight than we should. For me, branching out and asking for help is something I’ve always struggled with, especially when you feel like no one can relate or emphathize. At UMBC, the professors really are beyond supportive and there are countless resources to ensure that you’re getting the appropriate support to help you succeed. I hope future RALs don’t wait or hesitate to seek help when they need it.
What else do you want to share? To the entire Women’s Center staff who makes sure that the programs, physical office, and members are always up and running, there aren’t enough thank you’s to suffice. The financial support was a tremendous weight off my shoulders but the groups, check-ins, and discussions shared together are safe spaces and moments of peace for a lot of RALs who don’t otherwise get that chance. Forever grateful for everyone!
Erlinda – Modern Languages & Linguistics BA, Spring ’23
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? This fall, I intend to work as a Spanish teacher at a public school. I plan to use my degree and knowledge of the Spanish language to work with students, helping them learn and understand the language better. I am passionate about teaching a second language and I believe that it is important for everyone to know more than one language. I also plan to complete a master’s degree in intercultural communication at UMBC with a concentration on language and culture. This will give me a foundation in the field and help me better understand different cultures as well as language learning. I will become more culturally aware, and it will help me a lot in my teaching career because there are ethnic groups of students, and it is important to be culturally aware. My future career after completing my master’s degree is to become a Spanish instructor at a community college.
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? My advice to current adult learners is to never give up on their studies; patience and persistence will pay off. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. Don’t forget to take care of yourself by getting plenty of rest and staying healthy. It’s important to remember that you are not alone in your journey and that there are many resources available to help support you throughout the process.
What else do you want to share? Thank you for letting me be part of this community and for supporting me financially and personally. I am motivated and excited to be able to keep learning and growing in my field as a Spanish teacher. With your help, my dreams of obtaining a bachelor’s degree have come true.
Cai – Social Work BA & Psychology BA, Spring ’23
What were you involved in at UMBC and/or what was your experience like as an adult learner? I did a lot of networking
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? Work in the field and contemplate grad school!
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? Make use of the resources and always always ask for help
What else do you want to share? It’s been 10 years since I dropped out of school and got sober, so this is a hug achievement for me!
Ashley – Social Work BA & Psychology BA, Fall ’22
What were you involved in at UMBC and/or what was your experience like as an adult learner? As an adult learner at UMBC I tried my best to get involved as much as possible. I was the co-vice-president of the Phi Alpha Social Work honors society. I also had the opportunity to participate in research with a wonderful mentor, Dr. Kerri Evans, from the social work department. I was able to work as a research assistant, during which time I worked on a few academic publications. Additionally, I worked with a team to develop a board game to be used for cultural sensitivity training towards immigrant students in K-12 schools. I was able to present one research paper at URCAD 2022. I was able to co-present our game project at the CSWE Critical Conversations conference 2022.
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? After graduating I plan to complete a masters degree in clinical social work. I’m not sure about which population I would like to work with yet!
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? My advice is to appreciate the kind community of people who offer support at the women’s center. Make as many friends as possible. Don’t be afraid to confide in them if you are struggling. This is a great place to be.
What else do you want to share? I am super appreciative of the team in the women’s center who have shown me nothing but kindness and support. It was a huge blessing in my life to be a part of this community. I have gone through so much during my time at school, but I knew I always had support with the RAL scholar staff members. Love them :).
Lejla Heric-Safadi – Public Health BA, Fall ’22
What you were involved in at UMBC and/or what was your experience like as an adult learner? My involvement was with the Women’s Center and as a member of AMWHO.
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? I started a full-time position during my last semester, so I will continue working while applying to graduate programs.
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? Do not be afraid to challenge yourself. Ask for help because you are not alone. Build connections with the people in your classes as you might gain new friends like I did.
What else do you want to share? UMBC and Women’s Center were crucial to my success as a returning student. I could not have found a better place for me, as I felt supported and encouraged, even during struggles that Covid brought on. I fulfilled all my academic goals and then some, as I added two minors and a certificate to my major, which will not only be helpful to my career, but have also helped me clarify the focus of my further studies.
Jency Suresh – Social Work BA, Fall ’22
What you were involved in at UMBC and/or what was your experience like as an adult learner? As an adult learner, it was hard for me to find time for clubs or any other activities in the campus. Through, women’s center services I was able to meet with the students who were adult learners. I was able to talk to them and have conversations with them on so many topics. During COVID, the Women’s Center helped me to grow strong because I know they were there for me no matter what the situation was. Ms. Jess, Sandra and Jane were very supportive whenever I had a concern or a problem. They were there to listen to me and help me sort out my concerns. Ms. Jess always went beyond her role and helped me. I am very grateful for everything the women center has offered me!
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? I am planning to pursue my Master’s degree in Social work
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? Please do not hold back your questions. The Women’s Center has answers for you!
What else do you want to share? I want to encourage all the hard working students to get out there and push hard to accomplish their dreams.
Jackie SJ Kim – Acting BFA, Fall ’22
What you were involved in at UMBC and/or what was your experience like as an adult learner? Acting BFA – professors needed to work more on learning different ethnic backgrounds of their students and how they’re being treated between their faculty and staff members.
What are your plans after graduation (grad school, work, etc.)? Move to ATL and eventually LA
Looking back on your experience, what is your advice for current Returning Adult Learners? Don’t give up. Age is just a number. Everyone’s journey and chapter is different. Do not compare yourself to others. You don’t know what they’ve gone through and they don’t know your story either. You deserve that much grace and love towards yourself.
What else do you want to share? We did it
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A post curated by the Women’s Center’s Program Coordinator, Jane DeHitta At the end of every semester, the Women’s Center hosts a Graduation + End of the Year celebration for all of the...
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Wed, 31 May 2023 17:07:26 -0400
Wed, 31 May 2023 17:07:26 -0400
What Goes Around, Comes Around: Interviewing Dakota
Started as a student and ended as Staff, Dakota talks MCS
By: Rae Daniel
I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing my co-worker and former UMBC MCS student Dakota Boodhoo. While attending UMBC, Dakota was able to get an internship at a BCPL library through MCS 404, and after graduation he continued in the library career path, where he eventually ended up back at UMBC, not as a student, But as an AOK Library worker! What goes around, comes around. He and I talked about His journey, and the integration of MCS in his daily work life.
Rae: How did you transition from a major in Media and Communication Studies to a career in a library? What inspired you to make that transition?
Dakota: I was uncertain about my career direction after completing my Media and Communication Studies degree. However, I landed an internship at BCPL Pikesville Branch library and found it to be a rewarding experience. With time, I gained more knowledge and eventually pursued a career in libraries. It wasn't an easy journey, but I take pride in taking an unusual career path.In fact the internship was the one I used for my MCS internship and I found out that I could use this degree in the field to become a digital media library specialist.
R: Was Media and Communications Studies your first choice of major?
D: Yes, I chose Media and Communication Studies as my major because I've always been fascinated by the power of media to shape our understanding of the world. I'm particularly interested in the role that media plays in shaping public opinion and influencing social change. I have been studying commuincations since I was in middle school my magnet program was Mass Communications. I have never left it and last May received my Master's in Organizational Communications.
R: In what ways do you see your media and communications background as an asset in your current role, and how have you leveraged those skills to enhance your work?
D: With a background in Media and Communication Studies, I excel at effective communication with others. My skills allow me to make a positive impact on society and convey my ideas clearly. I have to deal with students and community members from all backgrounds. In order to be successful you must communicate well.
R: What kind of jobs did you pursue after graduation, and how did you get started in your career?
D: Internships in libraries and job shadowing led me to my career. I enjoyed working with the people and the type of work they did. I spent many years in the library as a visitor and it was my happy place. Working their has been a blast. Also using my degree everyday has also been pretty great.
R: What do you think are some of the key skills and qualities needed to be successful in a library, and how do those compare to the skills and qualities needed in media and communications?
D: As someone with experience in media and communication, I believe that effective communication is a vital skill that can make a positive difference in both fields. The ability to articulate ideas clearly, engage with others, and convey information accurately are all transferable skills that are valuable in both environments. However, in a library setting, attention to detail, organization, and a passion for learning and research are also crucial qualities.Especially in academic libraries.
R: What do you enjoy most about working in a library, and what are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role?
D: This job can be peaceful and fulfilling, but also comes with challenges like dealing with difficult patrons and staying up-to-date with new technologies. Working with the campus community you enjoy getting to know the students and seeing them grow and mature each semester. It's also kind of sad seeing them graduate but you are happy to see them go fulfill their dreams.
R: What is an underrated genre of books in your opinion?
D: Historical fiction is underrated. It's entertaining, educational, and can be just as gripping as any other genre. It's funny seeing the rise of shows like Bridergton or Queen Charlotte on Netflix they are helping bring attention to the genre.
R: What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of being a Media and Communication Studies student, and how have you navigated the field through your college career?
D: MCS was great it prepared me for the real world. Also they expected the best from us and I felt prepared to get my Maste's. Lots of papers and projects but I enjoyed them all. Professor Snyder was the best! I have heard many complain that they just felt like they were just a number at their university in MCS I felt they wanted us to succeed. MCS prepares you for any field it's the best.
R: How do you think libraries are evolving and changing in the digital age, and what do you see as the role of libraries in the future?
D: Even with the rise of technology, libraries still have an essential role in providing access to information and promoting literacy. In the future, libraries will adapt to meet the needs of a digital society while maintaining their commitment to equitable access. Libraries will be a hub for lifelong learning, fostering a love of reading, critical thinking skills, and supporting the community's educational and cultural needs. In the academic world libraries are a safe place where students can always come together and study. During the pandemic we missed seeing students together the library always provides a place to do it.
R: What advice do you have for someone who is interested in pursuing a career in the library field, especially if they come from a different academic background?
D: If you're determined to pursue a career in the library field, especially if you come from a different academic background, it's crucial to start by researching the various roles and responsibilities within the field. Taking courses or workshops to gain knowledge and skills in areas such as information management, literacy and education, and community outreach is highly recommended. In addition, volunteering at a local library can provide invaluable experience and insight into the daily operations of a library. Moreover, networking with professionals in the field can help you gain a better understanding of the industry and potential career opportunities. Remember, libraries play an essential role in society, and your skills and passion can make a significant difference in promoting equitable access to information and literacy. Find out which type of library that interests you they have public, private and academic libraries. Find your specialization, there is someplace for everyone.
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By: Rae Daniel I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing my co-worker and former UMBC MCS student Dakota Boodhoo. While attending UMBC, Dakota was able to get an internship at a BCPL...
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Wed, 24 May 2023 17:15:00 -0400
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Alumni Spotlight: Chloe Love Obispo, ‘22
By: Louna Temsah
Photo Credit: Chloe Love Obispo
Meet Chloe! A UMBC MCS and softball alumni. Chloe discusses new career opportunities and her current roles after graduation.
Could you tell us about yourself ?
I graduated from UMBC in 2022 with a B.A. in Media and Communication Studies and a minor in Psychology. During my time at UMBC, I interned as a Social Media Manager for the UMBC Division of Professional Studies and interned in Sports TV Broadcasting for UMBC Athletics.
Ever since I began my studies in Media and Communication Studies, I realized how much of a "big picture" thinker I am and how much I love when a brand has a strong foundation in who they are, what they provide, what they embody, and how they project that in their storytelling. After realizing this, I knew that I wanted to take my shot at a career that allowed me to work for big name brands.
After graduating UMBC, I began my entry-level career as a Marketing Coordinator at Live! Entertainment and Hospitality Districts at the Waterside District location in Norfolk, VA. More recently, I just finished a project with the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles and landed a new position as Marketing and Communications Manager at DICK'S Sporting Goods - House of Sport.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
A typical day in my life as a coordinator was weekly meetings with the marketing team, which included conversations about upcoming events and concerts coming up and how we can creatively market and promote those events through our channels.
After meetings, we break up into who is working on what. When you work in the entertainment industry, there's a lot of things happening continuously, so it's extremely important to communicate duties, divide, and conquer!
After figuring out which projects are mine, I begin market research and industry trend research, brainstorming content ideas for social media, creating email marketing campaigns, brainstorming sales building offers, and outreach to local businesses.
Also, day-of events are super cool! We'd have a large-scale of about 2,000 people and some that are small with about 100 people. Working those events like concerts, food festivals, and more are extremely fun and rewarding to see all of your planning unfold!
What is it that you do now and what is your role?
I am finishing up my role as a Marketing Coordinator at Live! and am transitioning into my new role as Marketing and Communications Manager at DICK'S Sporting Goods - House of Sport where I will be in charge of all-things marketing and promotions for the brand and partnered events.
If you could go back to the time you came into UMBC as an MCS major, is there anything different you would do?
If I could go back to that time, I definitely would have started my MCS major a lot earlier. I was someone who was extremely indecisive and made decisions based on other peoples' vision for my career versus what I actually wanted for myself.
Starting MCS 2 years later ultimately set me back and I had to play catch-up for a little, but the grit and determination to be great in the field is what got me to where I am now.
How has MCS been of help towards your career?
Media and Communications has allowed me to become the professional I've always wanted to grow into. Before changing my career path to it, I was an extremely shy, reserved, and soft spoken individual with a lot on her mind with no way to express it. As I've said, I am a "big picture" thinker, so being able to switch to a more creative space as a career has allowed me to really grow into a strong writer, speaker, creative, innovative forward-thinker, and storyteller.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
The highlight of my career so far definitely has been this past weekend- we had 2 sold out large events in one weekend and we couldn't be more proud of the work we put forth to drive so many sales and bring revenue to our District!
Not only that, but the opportunity to start a new position with a big brand that I truly love and grew up on is an exciting feeling for me. Also, being able to really network and build my portfolio/resume with incredible experiences has been great. I think that every little step is a new highlight and I just have continued successful visions for myself and the brands that I build and represent. I just can't wait to have more career highlights in the future!
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By: Louna Temsah Photo Credit: Chloe Love Obispo Meet Chloe! A UMBC MCS and softball alumni. Chloe discusses new career opportunities and her current roles after graduation. Could you...
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Alumni Spotlight: Ashton Greenwood, ‘17
Ashton talks marketing jobs and Diamond Comic Distributors
By: Spencer Derrenberger
Photo Credit: William Greenwood
Meet Ashton Greenwood, an MCS alum from the class of 2016. During her time at UMBC, she worked on UMBC’s Bartleby Creative Arts Journal and WMBC Radio. Since 2018, Ashton has been working at Diamond Comic Distributors.
In our conversation, she detailed her position at Diamond Comic Distributors, marketing in general, and her UMBC MCS experience.
Q: Could you describe your position at Diamond Comic Distributors? What are your roles and responsibilities?
I’m the Associate Marketing Manager at Diamond Comic Distributors and since we run a pretty lean marketing department, it means I wear a lot of hats. The biggest part of my job is organizing and executing the logistics and promotion of our annual outreach event, Free Comic Book Day. Free Comic Book Day is designed to engage existing comic book readers and expand readership to new fans by offering a selection of comic books, usually around 40-50, that consumers can get from their local comic shops. It takes place around the world at thousands of participating comic book shops, with an average of over 3 million comic books given away, again, for free. It’s a super fun event that generates a lot of buzz each year! My role is to build and promote the event from start to finish. First, by working with our publishing partners – companies like Marvel, Image Comics, Archie Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and more – to create that year’s list of available comic books. Each year, there’s a new set of comic books given out. Then, it’s onto promo merch (or “swag” as we like to call it): shirts, hats, lanyards, buttons, etc. After that, it’s time for my favorite part – marketing the comic books! That means interviewing the comic book creators, sharing sneak peeks inside the pages of some of the books, and keeping an active social presence. I’ll keep up with that promo until event day. On the actual day of the event, I’ll usually try to head out to a few comic book shops to get some photos and videos of the event happening in real time. Speaking of, Free Comic Book Day is coming up soon – Saturday, May 6! If you haven’t participated before, I highly recommend getting in on it!
Beyond that, I handle advertising partnerships, working with our publishing partners to build marketing
campaigns that most effectively reach the audience they’re after – comic shop owners, comic book readers, or both. I handle social media a selection of Diamond’s brands, including Free Comic Book Day, Comic Shop Locator, and Diamond Comic Distributors, among others. I also write press releases, field press inquiries, and manage our relationship with the “Comics Media” (in other words, journalists who write nearly exclusively about comics, pop culture, and all things nerdom).
Q: What qualifications or traits do you think are most important for this position?
The ability to prioritize and re-prioritize, for sure! Priorities shift pretty regularly so you need to be able to pivot and jump on something new. I want to be clear in saying this: not multitasking. I actually find that in a situation where you’re trying to juggle a lot of balls, multitasking creates more problems than it solves. In terms of qualifications, strong writing skills feel like a must.
Q: In your opinion, do you have any traits that specifically make you distinguishable from your peers?
My position relies fairly heavily on soft skills, like collaborating with publishers and building a rapport, so I’d say my generally bubbly personality has been helpful in that regard.
Q: What do you find the most exciting about marketing? Why does it interest you?
This is a great question! The thing I like most about marketing is engaging your audience and getting them excited about what you have going on. To that end, I probably like content marketing and social media marketing the most because there’s so much room to play! On the Free Comic Book Day website and socials, I always aim to keep it light and fun – we’re talking about comic books after all! We do a lot of polls and match-up brackets and make quotes and references. It’s really rewarding to see the audience get invested in certain books or characters and know I had a hand in building that hype.
Q: How do you think your experience with MCS at UMBC has prepared you for shaping your career?
I found all the different formats and opportunities for writing in the MCS program incredibly helpful! I got hired at Diamond right out of graduating from UMBC and had never actually written a press release before, but was able to pull from my experiences in MCS and make it happen. I also found the interview skills I learned as part of the internship requirement made a huge difference in my mindset and preparation during the interview process for this position.
Q: From your experience, what was the biggest or most important lesson you learned during your time as a student?
Might sound a little weird, but breaking down a big project into smaller, bite-sized chunks. There were so many times at UMBC that I would have a big project or paper and would get overwhelmed by how much would need to happen in order to finish it. Being able to break a big project down into small steps, and therefore small victories, is an approach that definitely translates to the professional world and makes a big difference.
Q: What advice would you give to a student considering a future in marketing?
First, to give some thought to what “side” of marketing you’re most interested in. Maybe it’s analytics, maybe it’s content and social, maybe it’s SEO. Marketing is an umbrella term, to some extent, and there’s a lot of ways to take it. Next, don’t take it so seriously. Marketing doesn’t have to be all “boardroom vibes.” It can be fun! I’ve had some of my best ideas and biggest successes when I let up on being stern and serious and let my creativity lead.
]]>
By: Spencer Derrenberger Photo Credit: William Greenwood Meet Ashton Greenwood, an MCS alum from the class of 2016. During her time at UMBC, she worked on UMBC’s Bartleby Creative Arts...
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Tue, 23 May 2023 18:04:30 -0400
Wed, 24 May 2023 11:48:08 -0400
Alumni Profile: Joey Scalise
Joey talks about how MCS follows him after graduating UMBC
By: Rae Daniel
Photo Credit: Joey Scalise
Alumni and good friend of mine, Joey Scalise started his UMBC career in 2017. He graduated in 2021 and has since taken various topics he learned in MCS and applied them to his jobs and career path.
I sat down and talked to him about his journey through the MCS career and college, and what he has been doing since graduating.
The interview has been edited for clarity.
Rae: So, we’ve known each other since literally the beginning of our college careers starting in 2017, even just a bit before that. So correct me if I’m wrong, but when we first started, you were undecided in terms of your major?
Joey: Yes, I had no idea. Well, I had a couple of ideas, and MCS was one of the majors I was thinking about, but I wasn’t completely sure at the time. I was thinking about theater, for a little bit. Just because one of my teachers in high school was really pushing me to do that. But, I took an MCS class and theater class both my freshman year, and I just ended up leaning more towards MCS because I felt like it was more promising and I just enjoyed it more.
R: That was actually my next question, was “what made you want to choose MCS as your major?”
J: I think it is just more usable in day to day life, I mean, I still use a lot of stuff I learned, especially right now with a lot of issues surrounding media in the last few years, it’s been great to learn and apply as everything’s been happening. I’m thankful every day for learning media literacy, and it was actually the first class I took, was [MCS] 101, and it’s helped me a lot.
R: I’m glad it has. And you know, being in MCS comes with doing a lot of projects, do you remember any projects that were your favorites, or projects that stood out to you?
J: I think the one I’m proudest of is my capstone, just because it’s becoming more and more relevant.
R: Really? What was your capstone?
J: It was about Google and Facebook data mining, I was also talking about the thing with Cambridge Analyica and the 2016 election. It and similar topics have been talked about more and more since then. Especially right now specifically with the talk of TikTok being banned soon, and that, I think, was the moment I really realized that it’s like “oh, my degree helps me because I’ve never had anything [that I learned] in school that was this applicable to real life, other than fun facts from food chemistry classes. It took through quarantine to finish.
J: I feel like MCS is kind of like technological philosophy.
R: What do you mean by that?
J: I think we've got a lot of modern philosophy in all the classes, so that was helpful. I think a lot of the work was reading and then writing about what we read, which really helped, like Foucault. I think just critiquing and thinking about modern culture around media technology, like looking at Black Mirror, and we watched Black Mirror episodes about three different times. It was a lot of thinking, looking at, analyzing, and just discussing a lot of concepts with modern philosophy. We’re surrounded by the internet and computers and it’s interesting seeing just how humanity interacts with it now. I genuinely feel like everyone should take a media literacy class.
R: So what do you do now after your college career?
J: So right after graduation, for like, six months, I was working at Six Flags America in Bowie. I was the digital and social media coordinator. But it was a lot of physical labor. It was like 60% other duties asigned, I wasn't doing a lot of what I signed up for, the MCS stuff. Granted, on the one hand, like I was designing signs and using Adobe software, but then I had to go and put them up for like hours at a time in the dead heat. 2021. And since then, I've been working with Anne Arundel County Public libraries as a technology and video coordinator at the headquarters in Annapolis.
J: So predominantly, I'm part of the virtual services team. We run the website, we provide hotspots and Chromebooks to patrons in the libraries, but we don't fix them and address those issues. Basically anything digital that isn't hardware related, is a living through like a web service-ish kind of state. That's what we do. And then my specific niche is video; video editing and helping with social media.I also now take photos at different events, especially in the summer because there's a lot of summer programs at the branches. I use Adobe every single day. I would know how to use it if I didn’t start with MCS.
R: you’re ahead of me, that was also leading into my next question. Have you learned any new skills being in the position you’re in now?
J: I started learning [Adobe] After Effects. So that's been fun. I use it to animate the library system logo, that's a big thing. But also I've started learning about a little bit of HTML coding. We had to make portfolios at one point for one of my MCS classes and then see. I didn’t think my portfolio looked too good, but it was a good start considering it was the very first time I'd ever made a website.
R: What have you learned through searching for jobs fresh out of college, and the job hiring process as a whole? And do you have any advice for students searching for jobs?
J: First of all, there are scam jobs out there that I've almost fallen for. I've done the application process and then realized that it was fake like two or three times. So be careful. I was applying to like a couple hundred a week, I think, like right after graduation. Leading up to and right after graduation, throughout those four months that was a lot of jobs that I was applying to and I was using quick application functions through Indeed. And LinkedIn. I highly recommend doing those. Another one is, definitely make sure you have a portfolio, or a demo reel of your work.
R: So do you see yourself staying in this line of work at the library in the future?
J: Maybe not specifically in the library, but just in what I do for the library. video editing, Visual and digital production. Ideally for a non-profit. I’m going to be looking for other jobs fairly soon, actually. The hardest part of this job, is that it’s really hard to make captions for posts, actually. It’s like, trying to reach and hype up an audience without having to use seven exclamation points to get your point across, but also saying just enough that it fits in like, a hundred characters.
R: That’s understandable. So, last question then. If you were to give freshman year Joey some advice given where you are now, what would you tell yourself?
J: Don't worry. A lot of my last years in college were taken in the heat of the pandemic, and it actually helped me get better grades because I like doing work on my own time and being in my room helped me focus more, personally. But there was a lot of “what ifs” during that period, i just had to take one day at a time, and make the best of it. Also, don’t slack off too much, and you’ll be fine. The professors are very understanding. They helped me through personal and school issues when they came up. I highly recommend people try at least one MCS class, or think of it as a major if you have trouble deciding because it is such a broad topic. It gives you a lot of life skills too.
]]>
By: Rae Daniel Photo Credit: Joey Scalise Alumni and good friend of mine, Joey Scalise started his UMBC career in 2017. He graduated in 2021 and has since taken various topics he learned in...
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