By: Anna Mishonova

Photo Credit: Matthew Milo

What is your favorite MCS class and why?

MCS 222- History of Communication with Loviglio, first and foremost because at 8 am the first thing needed is the energy he brings to the classroom. Moreso however because the content gave me an appreciation for semiotics and how universal communication is to the entirety of humanity, as well as how many things we take for granted with the amount of information we both consume and produce.

What is your favorite experience in UMBC? Why?

My favorite experience at UMBC has been getting to take the African American literature courses, the other English courses for poetry and lit., and the anthropology courses for human evolution and other human interest matters. These things have taught me to think and appreciate at a deeper level past what I am and what I experience; the ability to appreciate so much culture has changed me and I really appreciate it.

What are you looking forward to after graduation?

Going fishing for a week and not doing anything lol.

Can you describe your path in UMBC and MCS specifically?

I ended up swapping into Media and Communication Studies after coming to a crisis of identity and purpose while drawing towards the last semester of my senior year. I realized that none of the careers available to me were anything I wanted to pursue, and I decided I was going to follow my heart and passion, and that at my happiest throughout my life I had always been interacting with media on Reddit, movies, memes, games, anything in general. Although it seemed ethereal, I realized that one of my biggest strengths in life was communicating and using electronics, usually for gaming, building computers, and repairs, but it turns out they all marry well into something that makes me feel driven and happy. 

What made you choose MCS?

Quite simply: I love memes, cartoons,  video games, music, and more so, I love how they bring people together. No matter what is going on in the world, they give people an avenue to express themselves, have fun, share their experiences and cultures, and (hopefully) make the world a better place. When I returned to finish my degree, I knew creating a culture that makes people happy was the goal, and MCS seemed like the way.

How did this major prepare you for the future? What skills did you gain?

This major connected all of the skills that I gathered from English and preparing technical documentation, and breathed a new form of life into it that I was desperately looking for which involves a lot of creativity, interpersonal connection, psychology, and such a wide interdisciplinary focus that I cannot do it justice in one sentence. Not only did it expand the way that I think about the media I engage with, but it gave me real avenues to careers and skills with things like Adobe, Blender, animation, design, and much more.

What do you do in your free time?

A lot of my free time for the last 10 years has gone to fighting cancer, which I am blessed to be in early remission after a long trial of two years.

When I have free time, I like to hang out with my cat and play video games at home as I am a homebody tried and true. I like to cook, fletch [to fit a feather on an arrow, for the RuneScape game], build computers, paint, garden, go hiking, fish, and do anything outside in general.

What internships did you get while being an MCS student? Did you enjoy them?

While being an MCS intern I have worked for two separate companies: one performing social media and training duties for human resources at a health insurance company, and the other doing content design for an ethical hacking and information security company. Most importantly, they were both paid, so I enjoyed that very much. Onto the actual experiences themselves, the people that I worked with and the challenges and adventures I got to experience are something I would never replace. Although the internship component is a bit daunting, it is well worth it.

Do you have any advice for people starting their student paths?

Follow your heart and be honest with yourself. You are going to have to live the life you create, view that as a blessing, and don't turn it into a curse by doing things that don't make you happy. Do what you love and the money will come, and you will never work a day in your life.

What is your favorite place on campus?

AOK library 7th floor towards the presidential room, you can see the Key Bridge and Baltimore in the distance.

What would you like to see more of on campus?

I love the Nerf wars but pick up your darts when you're done! lol Also feed them squirrels they’re my homies.

Seriously though, nothing, this place feels like home and I appreciate the people who make it that way.

By: Matthew David Milo

Photo Credit: Vincent Civiletti

I recently had the opportunity to learn more about Anna Mishonova, who is an international exchange student from Ukraine.

I have had the pleasure to work with her both at UMBC in several classes, as well as at an internship where I have been able to work with one of the most positive, intelligent, creative, and driven people I have ever met. Anna serves as a constant reminder that even when life gives challenges, like Putin’s war in Ukraine which forced Anna to leave her home, there is always the choice to rise above and continue working hard for both yourself and the people you care about.

She has plans to go to MICA to pursue her Master’s after she graduates, and we at UMBC have been very lucky to have been able to share our campus and home with a bright mind and turn a dire situation into an opportunity to share culture and hope. 

In design I remember her saying “The Sun has risen over the Mountain”, and I keep that quote close to remind:  there are always good things and new hope to come.

Favorite class in MCS? Why?

It’s a bit hard to choose, but I would probably say MCS 377 Making Visual Culture or MCS 333 History and Theory of Media Communication Studies. The fist is right up my alley: I love arts and hope to become a graphic designer. This class gave me a very good foundation and practical skills to achieve that. With MCS 333, I wasn’t too enthusiastic in the beginning, since the name of the course does not sound that exciting to me. However, as the class progressed, I found myself becoming more and more interested in MCS theory. It is exciting and stimulating to learn about the different frameworks, ideas, and explanations the authors had for the world in front of them. As we continue to develop media further, I’m sure this class will get even more interesting readings and theories.

Favorite experience in UMBC? Why?

It might be an unexpected answer, but I really loved walking to the 7:15 am yoga class. My walk takes about 10 minutes from my dorm to RAC, and I go down a very picturesque hill, pass the Library pond, and the university center alley to then meditate and listen to my body for an hour. It is an amazing way to start my day and keep my body and mind in tone. In general, walking on campus overall is very pleasant, especially around the Hilltop circle.

What are you looking forward to after graduation?

I’m looking forward to continuing my studies and getting my MA in Graphic Design from MICA. With a combination of UMBC and MICA knowledge, I’m sure I will be a force to reckon with :) I want to express myself through both graphic design and written word, and hopefully, get a job in the creative field that I will really enjoy. On a smaller scale, my best friend is coming all the way from Germany to spend 2 weeks in the US. I haven’t seen her in over 2 years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and I miss her so much. I’m so excited to show her around campus and spend time with her.

Describe your path in UMBC and MCS specifically.

I came to UMBC as a transfer student from Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Back home, I was studying journalism in V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, and I decided to continue along this path in UMBC. I was extremely lucky to get a scholarship from the university that would allow me to finish my bachelor’s degree. I had to catch up a lot, though, because courses from Ukraine did not transfer fully to the US university. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the process and got a chance to take very interesting classes, like HIST 111 Western Civilization 1700 to Present with Prof. Brandon Munda. I absolutely loved that class and would take it again if I could.

What made you choose MCS?

Back in Ukraine, I wanted to become a journalist to share stories that might otherwise be forgotten and create a positive impact in society. With time, however, I realized that I wanted a more creative career that would allow me to explore and be imaginative. In the US, I chose Media and Communication Studies because it impressed me with its diversity and large scope of directions. I knew that with this degree, I could work as a journalist, but also as a social media manager, marketing specialist, graphic designer, etc. I really enjoy this wideness, especially in the modern world, which requires us to adapt fast.

How did this major prepare you for the future? What skills did you gain?

I became a better writer, reader, thinker, and creator through my experiences with MCS. The exposure to different ideas, topics, opinions, and theories broadened my perspective and allowed me to include many different angles when trying to solve a problem. Through MCS, I got a strong foundation in graphic design, as well as communication, writing, and analytical skills. I feel prepared for the future ahead of me.

What do you do in your free time?

I love cooking, especially Ukrainian cuisine. It brings me back home in a way and allows me to share my love for Ukraine with my loved ones here. I also like to sketch and often do it during classes. I’m learning to play the piano and would love to learn other instruments as well. I’m also learning French online with a small group of Ukrainian students and a professor from my previous university. We have persevered through COVID lockdowns, full-scale invasion, and even different time zones! 

Do you have any advice for people starting out their student paths?

A simple thing that really helped me was starting out a physical planner. I still type things down on my phone sometimes, but nothing beats the pen and paper method in my opinion. It takes the million thoughts and worries new students might have and puts them in tangible words right in front of you. It’s also very satisfying to cross out tasks you have completed.

What is your favorite place on campus?

I have two: the library pond and the West Hill apartments. The first is very tranquil, with ducks and geese around, as well as very cozy little roads around the pond. West Hill apartments remind me of European streets; I want to move to Europe and consider West Hill a demo version of it :)  

What would you like to see more of on campus?

I would probably like to see more trees. The campus is very beautiful, but I feel like more trees in different locations would help with softening strong winds and giving shade in summer. I would also like to see more sustainability efforts: better recycling options, composting urns, upcycling events, etc.

By: Jake Jackson

Photo Credit: Obi Mukhopadhyay

What is your name, year, and expected graduation? Are you a member of any clubs or organizations in or outside of UMBC?

Daniel Lee, 25 Fall 2024. I used to be an active member of the Smash club and the occasional KSA and JSA. I work at Starbucks, but I guess that’s not really being a part of an organization.

When you were finishing up high school and looking into colleges was MCS your first choice for studies? If so what drew you in to studying MCS and If not what was your original major and what made you switch over to MCS?

MCS was not my first choice. I saw that UMBC had a great comp sci program so I thought I’d go ahead and take advantage of that. But as I had to do projects, I realized that I didn’t have the patience to trial and error every single step or have to scrutinize every micro detail to see if that broke my entire code. So I thought I’d move to sociology since I was more interested in why people operate the way they do. But that also made me realize that I wanted to interact with groups of people instead of looking at society as a whole. I also wanted to be more hands-on instead of being more focused on research. After a while, I looked at MCS and found that there are some core classes that I found a lot of interest in. I might have switched yet again, but ever since the pandemic, I really saw the importance of social media and how it’s going to overtake traditional media. MCS, to me, is the perfect degree to study this phenomenon and even participate in it.

What is your desired career path post graduation and how have you felt the MCS program has prepared you for this line of work?

My first goal is to be a social media manager. After that, I’d have to see what parts of managing a company’s social media would take me. Because of the amount of skills you’d have to learn to fill in the gaps of a company’s weakness, I could either push for something more creative by becoming a more prolific video editor or I could focus more on becoming an event planner or something else I didn’t foresee.

I’d say MCS 355 was probably the most important part that prepared me for it because it introduced to me the process of proposing a social media campaign to a company that doesn’t have a strong social media presence. It also taught me how there’s so many little things to take note of when building your platform. 

Have you been able to do any MCS related work or internships while you have been a student at UMBC?

I’ve only been able to be a part of the MCS Campaign team or MCS 480. Since I also have to pay for my rent and bills, I’ve had to work alongside being a full-time student even before I had enough experience to start applying. 

What has been impactful thus far in your learning? Favorite class or a class that you felt taught you valuable skills?

I’d say MCS 377 (Making Visual Culture) with Professor Anchor. Learning the basics of a variety of Adobe programs gives me an idea of how to make a variety of content and what aspects I need to pay attention to. I’ve had vague ideas of what makes some content go viral so seeing the little details and getting some practice has been pretty helpful.

How has the MCS program shaped how you view and understand media?

Starting off with understanding communication at its rudimentary was probably what helped me shape my understanding of media. Learning the fundamentals will let you better understand how the landscape of media changes and what you should do to account for it. History is always boring, but MCS managed to leverage it in a way that made the theories that have been developed over time applicable to important moments. 

Have you felt that the MCS program has prepared you for a job in the ever changing landscape of social media?

I’d say so because the classes I’ve taken in the 300+ levels feel relevant to what we’re taking today. Things like learning how to use modern creative software like Adobe Photoshop and Audition or what an employer would potentially search for and how to set up your portfolio to best display your skills. Although, I’d attribute the preparation more to talking to the professors since they’ve talked about their experience with what it’s like looking for work and how that landscape has changed ever since they first started their search. Even if a topic may be loosely related to what they’ve experienced, they will always have something more to expand upon if you asked.

What is some advice you might have for incoming MCS Students or students who might be undecided but are considering MCS?

For incoming MCS students, my advice is to look at what creative software UMBC has. Find where you can experiment with Adobe Premiere Pro or Photoshop. That stuff isn’t cheap and you have access to it for free. Another piece of advice is to REALLY connect with your professors. I know it’s generic advice, but for MCS, it’s a communication based degree. If you graduate and you haven’t made any connections with people who’ve been in the field, you’re going to struggle a lot, not only professionally, but creatively as well. The MCS professors have years of their own experience separate from UMBC and are actively working on their own projects and collaborations along with being a professor. They, at the very least, have a lot of insight for something you would work on.

For those undecided, MCS will at least give you things to think about for things we do every day. Learning how communication is carried out, what gives a group of words such importance.

By: Parker Vogel

Photo Credit: Tasayeh Nickens

Tasayeh Nickens is a recent alum of the Media and Communication Studies department at UMBC, who earned her diploma in January of 2024 and will be walking in May.

Tasayeh first went for nursing at the University of Alabama for two years before making a major shift towards UMBC since she was only five minutes away from the campus. Initially, she arrived at the Social Work major because of the way in which she could make an impact and help people, but eventually became a Media and CommunicationStudies major due to the opportunities the degree offers to help and communicate with people while also utilizing creative ideas, tools, and endeavors. She recounts always being tech savvy while growing up, being an active user on sites like Tumblr and running a personal blog, and the communicative aspect of the major was a good fit because it could take her in so many different directions post-graduation.

Tasayeh currently works two jobs, one as an operations assistant at Fearless, an impact-focused digital service integrator based in Baltimore, MD, in which she helps people through administrative work, aids in running events, and acts as a second hand to projects within the company. Her other position is as an educator for lululemon, where she brings in the more personal and friendly atmosphere to the company for a better guest experience by greeting guests and recommending products and promotions when possible.

Ideally, Tasayeh wants to work in the nonprofit sector; having tried nursing and social work as two possible majors, a communications or marketing role at a nonprofit organization seems ideal because she can do what she loves in helping others while contributing through the avenue of her degree from UMBC. The job hunt isn’t easy, though, and Tasayeh notes that the job market feels worse now than it previously did. She takes it day by day and acknowledges that no one will ever find the perfect opportunity, which is why patience and taking time to apply for worthwhile positions is a key component of the process. Over time and through applications, experience, and interviews, she says she learns what she likes and doesn’t like, and remembers that nothing is permanent and there is always room for growth and transitions, just like she saw in her academic career. She is currently in the interview process with House of Ruth Maryland’s Training Institute in Baltimore, MD, a site for community education, training, consultation, and technical assistance to professionals and the larger community on intimate partner violence. Going for a Community Engagement Specialist position, Tasayeh chooses to apply to them as she has a deep compassion for survivors experiencing intimate partner violence and wants to help in whatever means that she can. She has seen the stories and struggles of others, and this role would allow her to train people on the issues related to intimate partner violence in order to bring more knowledge and understanding to the topic.

When asked what she would love other Media and Communication Studies students to take from their time at UMBC, she recounts the resources on campus and to divide time; finding career pathways through the Career Center, engaging in outside activities like pilates, and taking any internships you can find to get a better sense of your career motivations and needs are all worthwhile tips to work up to while completing classes. In addition, Tasayeh mentions the ways the courses the media and communication studies department offer give so much opportunity to be creative and think outside the box in order to create an even stronger portfolio of work, and even the capstone course allows students to explore their passions to the fullest extent through whatever topic they so choose.

By: Anasia Mickle

Photo Credit: Fox 45 Staff

Meet Scherrie, a junior double majoring in Africana Studies and Media and Communication Studies. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, she's all about spreading positivity and creating connections.

As a young Black woman, Scherrie is passionate about promoting diversity and acceptance. Whether she's in class or hanging out with college groups, she's always advocating for understanding and inclusivity.

Scherrie's journey into the world of media and communication began with a deep love for storytelling. Growing up, she was captivated by the power of narratives to illuminate important issues and give voice to marginalized communities. This passion led her to pursue a double major in Africana Studies and Media and Communication Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

In her Media and Communication Studies courses, Scherrie delves into the complexities of media representation and the ways in which narratives shape our understanding of the world. She's particularly drawn to documentaries, which have the power to shed light on important social issues and amplify voices that often go unheard. Through her studies, she's learning how to harness the power of storytelling to effect positive change in society.

Outside of the classroom, Scherrie enjoys exploring her interests in photography, travel, and different cultures. She finds inspiration in movies and TV shows, especially documentaries, for their ability to offer new perspectives and spark meaningful conversations. Her diverse range of interests enriches her understanding of media and communication, allowing her to approach her studies from multiple angles.

For Scherrie, choosing Media and Communication Studies was a natural fit. It's a field that values authenticity and empathy, qualities she holds dear. Through her coursework, she's honing her skills in communication, critical thinking, and media analysis, preparing herself for a future career where she can make a difference through storytelling.

Despite the challenges of academia, Scherrie tackles each semester with determination and grace. She's learning and growing, building connections with classmates and professors that will serve her well in her journey. Her involvement in college groups dedicated to promoting diversity and acceptance reflects her commitment to creating positive change both on campus and beyond.

Looking ahead, Scherrie dreams of using her skills to help companies thrive on social media. She envisions herself crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and drive meaningful engagement. Through internships and hands-on experience, she's gaining valuable insights into the world of marketing and communication, paving the way for her future career.

To those considering joining the MCS department, Scherrie encourages them to take the leap. If you're passionate about storytelling and making a difference, it's the perfect path to pursue. The field of media and communication offers endless opportunities to explore your interests, connect with others, and create positive change in the world.

As Scherrie continues to follow her passion for storytelling, one thing remains clear: her enthusiasm is infectious, and she's making waves in the world, one story at a time.

By: Daniel Lee

Photo Credit: Ethan Wentzlaff

Ethan Wentzlaff, a senior at UMBC didn’t go down the traditional path of a 4 year plan. He originally wasn’t even planning to pursue MCS or even graduate at UMBC. Ethan wanted to see where baseball would take him since he played summer ball during his high school days. While he did decide to start with UMBC, he and his coach had a long conversation about whether UMBC really was the best place to continue his baseball career. After much deliberation, he decided to move to Salisbury University.

However, Ethan already ran into issues with the end goal of his undergraduate degree. Before he switched, He was already having second thoughts on the typical path of a student athlete. He was recommended to go with Business Technology Administration (BTA) from his first advisor. As Ethan progressed further into the degree and started taking IS courses, he realized that his patience for IS and inflexibility of the courses he took didn’t interest him at all.  It didn’t seem right to sit behind and let the programming do the work. In the end, he decided to go with MCS as his teammates were positive about their switch into the major. But, his time was limited and he began his transfer.

So Ethan went on to Salisbury to commit to the dream he built for himself before entering adulthood. The path seemed clear and Ethan was ecstatic about the team he joined and the athlete. Life seemed to have other plans though and the way forward went awry. For one, Covid-19 put a halt to everything. No more collegiate championship chances. No more practices or games. Not even a normal college education could happen when a worldwide pandemic stopped everything in its tracks. It all seemed to fall apart. However, there’s a silver lining with these events. Academically, things weren’t looking too great. Not because Ethan couldn’t perform well, but because of how much he would have to do. There was no MCS equivalent at Salisbury and the university wanted him to take their version of core classes and electives. On top of having to take every class online over Zoom, the least ideal situation to earn an education, there just wasn’t any comfortable position for Ethan. He didn’t have an infinite amount of money or time to take as many classes as needed and the reason he even transferred became irrelevant. Again, he had to make a tough decision, but he settled on transferring back to UMBC to complete his undergraduate degree and this time, with MCS.

Although Ethan made the best decision for him academically and financially, he still missed the athlete's life. He missed his team and his coach that he shared many memories with and it was a passion he pursued ever since high school. Without hesitation, he began to find ways to hold onto the sports life. He ended up finding an internship directly at UMBC with the UMBC sports soccer broadcast. It gave him the opportunity to feel what it’s like to be hands-on with media production and managing what slides and videos were shown on screen to a live audience.  He then continued on to do the same for basketball. After all these experiences, Ethan was able to move up from interning to working for the university in sports broadcasting and production for the year, bringing all his experiences with sports and media together.  

When it comes to the MCS program, there are two classes that stood out to Ethan the most. MCS 399: Methods in Media and Communication Studies and MCS 377: Making Visual Culture. MCS 399 was the class that opened his eyes to the importance and nuance of the research process. High school didn’t exactly prepare him on what the true research process would look like or what strategies there were to finding information you needed. MCS 377 on the other hand is how he was able to finally interact and participate in content creation. Since he focused on pushing his baseball aspirations in his early college career, he didn’t exactly have the time or energy to emulate what he saw on social media. The skills he learned and valued the most throughout his time with the major is the ability to use the Adobe Creative Cloud. By putting himself out there, he was able to contribute in ways he couldn’t imagine himself doing. It also let him take on side projects for friends and family whenever they needed a good photo or opinions on how to present their work better. With his time at UMBC coming to a close, Ethan Wentzlaff is looking to end it with his original aspirations still held close since the beginning, albeit in a different form.

By: Stephanie Marceron 

Meet Michael Washington! He graduated from UMBC in the spring of 2023 with a BA in Media and Communication Studies. He has always had a passion for photography and digital media creation and has been able to turn this passion into a career after graduation. I caught up with Mike to ask him a few questions about how life is after graduation and some advice he has for current and future students!

What do you do for work now that you have graduated and how do you utilize what you learned from your degree in your day-to-day life?

“I’ve been working for Maryland Public Television in their content department. I work as a production assistant, and so far I’ve helped produce episodes for two of MPTs notable programs: Outdoors Maryland and Maryland Farm and Harvest. My time in the MCS program helped give me direction and perspective for the digital media I produce. I’ve been effective in my career so far by capitalizing on my understanding of the audience.”

What is a piece of advice you have for upcoming seniors and what was your favorite thing about the department/degree, and/or what professor had the biggest impact on your time at UMBC?

‘My favorite thing about MCS was how my peers and professors engaged with the ideas. We took great interest in media scholars such as Marshall McLuhan and Stuart Hall. We appreciated debate, especially when our perspectives were in opposition. It allowed us challenge what we learned, and forced us to look for examples how these concepts were at play in our own lives. Additionally I’ve produced two short films and have been featured in barista magazine for my photography work. These both came through, effort, hours of scholarship, and building connections with people a deep passion for media.”

“My advice for MCS students is to look ahead and pursue your goals early. If you have an interest in a career, a calling, or a program, pursue it. Apply for internships, apply for jobs, and volunteer for causes that matter to you. All of that experience will make the difference in the career journey you’re on and the progression of the person you want to become. Oh…and enjoy your senior year!”

By: Amirah Adigun

Photo Credit: Arabia Morgan

Meet Alumni Arabia Morgan! She came to UMBC as a transfer student and originally majored in Theatre, but later changed her major to Media and Communication Studies with a minor in Theatre. Arabia graduated 11 years ago in December 2012 and has many accomplishments over the years. Currently residing in Los Angeles, she has worked as an influencer for multiple brands such as Firmoo and Zeelool which are glasses companies, because she also wears glasses and has also modeled for Shein and Romwe on their live accounts. Her biggest accomplishment has been the recent publishing of her first Novel titled  But I’m Fine tho: Khadija Parker which is available at Barnes & Nobles and Amazon. The novel is a romantic journey of self love and follows the story of Khadija Parker, who is a young woman from Charlotte, North Carolina. Khadija has spent most of her life as a people-pleaser and hopeless romantic and is in hopes of finding her one-true love. On her 25th birthday she was still unmarried, but held out hope because she felt that there were many unforeseen obstacles preventing her from reaching her happily ever after. It wasn’t until reaching her 30’s that a light bulb illuminated making things in her life appear a little clearer for her, which is when Khadija learns to close the revolving door of broken promises and begins to seek her own destiny.

What inspired you to write this novel? Arabia recalls she started writing this novel during the pandemic specifically June of 2022 and officially finished in November 2022. She explains she had recently gone through a failed engagement and to cope with the pain she was going through, she began to write. She mentions that one day she “found a gray hair that prompted me to write my feelings of what I felt was a midlife crisis” which relates to her character in her novel who is also suffering a mid-life crisis. Arabia talks about the things that inspire her to write and she mentions her personal life encounters as well as the life encounters of the people around her. She recalls while at UMBC she had a diary which she wrote from about 2011 to 2019. In this diary she would write about the different men she would interact with. These men were not people that she was in a romantic relationship with, but rather people she met at a club or any social setting. “ I wanted to write until I found my husband,” Arabia states. Writing was not only a way of coping for her, but it was also hopeful, that one day maybe her life can look like what she desires and envisions for herself. “Oddly enough I did not find my husband ha ha” Arabia laughs, she mentions how when she does find her husband it will be a fairytale ending as she desires and this vision is seen through how she has written her character, Khadija. 

When asked about how the publishing of her first novel personally impacted her life, she mentions how she had conflicting feelings. During the process of writing the novel she stated how she wondered if anyone would be able to relate to her work that is also connected to her own personal life. How would people view her after the publishing of her book, would they see her as Arabia Morgan or as just the author of the book they really enjoy? “A lot of people rather read fairytales and happy endings. I rather write in truth.” Arabia states as these questions plagued her mind because she has now become a writer and these feelings questioned how her image would be seen by the public with this novel and how her personal life is seemingly connected to the story she wrote. One advice Arabia advises to those who wish to write their own novel “to just do it! Don’t worry about the logistics of it yet. You are an artist so go be that artist and CREATE!”

By: Sydney Ashton

Photo Credit: Gigi Fredrickson

An Elkridge, MD native who recently earned her alumni status having graduated from UMBC in May of 2023 with a B.A. in Media and Communications Studies and a minor in Spanish. Post graduation, Ava has embarked on a new and exciting academic journey at the prestigious Georgetown University where she is pursuing a Masters Degree in Communications, Culture, and Technology.

Q. Can you tell me about the program that you’re in?

My masters is in Communication, Culture, and Technology at Georgetown University. The program is an interdisciplinary program that combines communications, culture, and technology. At Georgetown, masters students have the ability to focus on whatever they would like within that realm, whether it be artificial intelligence, law and policy, education, mental health and social media, or health care.

Q. How did the MCS program at UMBC prepare you for grad school? Any takeaways or projects/work you’d like to share?

I think that the MCS program greatly prepared me for this type of program. With understanding of media studies and communications, I feel like I have an understanding of a lot of different topics. Because the program has people focused on many different things, MCS generally prepared me to know a little bit about a lot, while also having something that I also know a lot about. The methods and theory focused classes were absolutely necessary for me to have taken and actually understand, as I use both of those foundations in all my classes.

My capstone was on technological determinism and early childhood education, and I have chose to stay in a similar area of study at Georgetown. My capstone focused on the harmful affects of technological determinist approaches to integrating technology into education, especially after Covid-19.

Q. What do you hope to do with your degree? What are your career goals?

 In the future, I want to go into educational technology production and work for a tech company in their communications or marketing department. I think that attending graduate school now was the right move for me.

Q. Any advice for MCS students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?

I would definitely recommend being involved in class, forming relationships with professors, and researching a program that best fits you. There are so many masters programs with different focuses and it is important to start looking earlier. I decided on a whim after looking at the post-undergraduate career situation, that it would be better for me to continue my education. I think that MCS prepares students very well for future research opportunities, so use the resources that are there.

By: Sydney Ashton

Photo Credit: Sofia Brouse

Meet Sofia Brouse, a Senior MCS Major, Gender Women’s + Sexuality Studies Minor, and a self taught makeup artist and drag performer! Sofia grew up in Catonsville only a few minutes down the road from UMBC. The senior started her college career off at Towson University but transferred due to the pandemic and its challenges. She earned an associates degree in general studies from CCBC Catonsville and transferred into UMBC her Junior year. When she isn’t in school mode, Sofia spends a lot of her free time perfecting makeup looks, posting creative transitional videos on Tik Tok, or performing at the occasional drag shows in the Baltimore area.

Q: When did you start doing makeup and drag?

“I began doing makeup about 6 years ago, but it didn’t start with drag makeup. After doing makeup for a year or two, I found drag makeup and performance and have been doing that for about 3-4 years. Since I was so young when I started drag, I didn’t start performing for about a year after I started practicing drag makeup because there are very few shows who will allow someone to perform if they are not 21+. At first, I didn’t think that I could do drag since I’m a woman, but I was very lucky to find an incredibly supportive community of performers who welcomed me into the world of drag and taught me that anyone can do drag as long as they love it and bring kindness to the community!”

Q: Can you talk about your journey as a makeup artist? What inspired/continues to inspire you?

“I first started doing makeup when I was around 16 and would mostly recreate makeup that I found on YouTube. Although I started with mostly basic glam faces, I learned most of my technical makeup skills from learning how to do drag makeup rather than everyday makeup. I take most of my inspiration from the 80’s dark fantasy, glam rock, and synthpop aesthetics, along with many other very talented artists and performers on social media. I also take a great deal of inspiration from books, more specifically high fantasy and fantasy romance novels.”

Q: Can you talk a bit about which social media platforms you use and how your background in MCS helps you curate content and manage your platforms?

“I mostly use Instagram and TikTok for makeup content, as the beauty community tends to be the most active on these platforms. When I have more time to create content after college however, I plan on creating a YouTube channel to create more long-form makeup and performance content. MCS has taught me a great deal about how to manage my social media accounts. On one hand, being in MCS has taught me the theory and logic behind media messages, which has made it much easier to navigate today’s social media landscape. On the other, I have learned technical applications of media theory like how to create a social media marketing plan and strategically create content, which I can apply to all of my social media platforms after college.” 

Q: What specific skills/ knowledge have transferred over from class to your social media and work in makeup and drag? Which skills have you learned in the MCS department at UMBC that have been the most helpful with your work and social media platforms?

“One thing that has really helped me in my social media work has been the idea of creating a consistent personal brand. Before learning how to do this at UMBC, my platforms were not very consistent and were not organized well. Now, although they are far from perfect, my social media platforms are much more consistent and aesthetically pleasing using the design concepts taught in MCS. “

Q: What advice would you give those who want to start creating content on social media?

“My biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to create content on social media is to be yourself as much as you can. If someone thinks what you are doing is cringy or weird, you are probably on the right track. The only way creating content on social media works is if you commit to it 100%, which often means doing things that are not comfortable at first. For example, it took me a very long time to be comfortable filming in public. But, after doing it over and over, I learned that filming in public only works if you commit to it. Once you stop listening to people who judge others for creating art, being perceived as cringey or weird becomes less of a problem.” 

Q: Plans post grad?/ dream job?

“After graduation, I plan to attend a specialized makeup school to become certified in makeup artistry. I would like to use my MCS degree to build a career in the makeup and fashion industry, using both my makeup and college education for social media management as a makeup artist in the industry.”

More of Sofia’s work can be viewed on her Tik Tok and Instagram @theladylitebrite and you can also book her for prom, special events, weddings, photoshoots, and costume makeup! DM her on instagram or email her at theladylitebrite@gmail.com