Be Connected

It's an age-old question. What's the future hold? For many college students, graduating later this month, this concern may feel like another weight on their shoulders, sitting on top of anxiety about the changes COVID has caused to their chosen career field.   This episode of Be Connected focuses on questions many students ask themselves about their future and what career path to take. It was created by Caroline White, a journalism major in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University.

Studies have shown college students experience more anxiety and depression than the general population, and they are more prone to loneliness. Add COVID to the mix and there are even more challenges, especially when a student has to quarantine. Grace Dargiewicz, a junior majoring in Digital Media, found several students who shared their Marquette University quarantining stories on this episode of Be Connected.

Having a career in sports and being a DJ are two difficult careers to break into. There are limited opportunities available and many young people want to pursue these entertainment-related positions.   Yet, breaking into these fields is possible. Marquette University Alumna Ivy Awino is doing both in her role as Team DJ for the Dallas Mavericks.  The Diederich College of Communication graduate shares her story and advice to students on this episode of Be Connected. Today's story was created by senior Will Scheuerman.

For college students, transferring to another university offers some challenges. The fall of 2020 is greeting Marquette University students with additional adjustments as students have to wear masks on campus and keep social distance. Also, instead of 96% of their classes being in person, only 61.2% are. There are some hybrid classes where the class meets in person and online, and there are also online only classes Three former transfer students have advice for current transfer students to help ease the transition. Zuzu Siam has the story for this episode of Be Connected.

Having a career in the entertainment industry is a dream job for many, but it’s a difficult field to break into. Marquette Alumnus Chris Marrs shares advice with students and some details of his journey to becoming an actor, writer and producer. Andres Isidoro, a senior majoring in Digital Media, has the story on this episode of Be Connected.

The field of sports broadcasting is highly competitive. Lots of people are vying for few positions. So, what can you do if you want to pursue this career in the future? Three Marquette University alumni offered their thoughts to students in the Diederich College of Communication. Brad Galli, a sports anchor at WXYZ TV in Detroit; Jen Lada, a reporter and host for ESPN and Sophia Minnaert, the primary Brewer’s sideline reporter on FOX Sports Wisconsin spoke at a Diederich Drop In on Teams. Zuzu (Zuhdia) Siam, a corporate communications major, has the details on this episode of Be Connected.

It's a busy time in the field of journalism these days with a variety of COVID-19 related stories being created and published through many different platforms. It can be overwhelming from a consumer point of view, and challenging for the journalists too. Marquette University alumna and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Jacqui Banaszynski, shared her words of wisdom with students and faculty in the Diederich College of Communication in the Spring 2020 semester. Zuzu (Zuhdia) Siam, a corporate communication major, has the story in this episode of Be Connected.

Students at Marquette University, and throughout the country, had a lot of changes to deal with when their courses went from being in person to all online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How did they adjust? How well did their classes go? What are some lessons they've learned? This episode of Be Connected has responses to those questions from some students who attend the Diederich College of Communication. Many of the comments they made were in online discussions and other written comments they shared in their classes. Hear what they had to say about this experience.

Some inspiration for college students who don't know what to major in, and graduates who might not like the major they chose. It comes from Alumnus Joe Martinez who wanted to do something in the music industry and ended up as an expert in online advertising and marketing.  He works from his home, travels around the world and has his own YouTube channel. Digital Media major, Maeve LeFevour talked to Joe about his career journey from DJ to PPC (Pay per Click) pro.

When thinking about opportunities in life, people often mention the importance of ‘doors’ or walking through a ‘new door.’  With a new year, people often look back at those doors they did or didn’t walk through, and the impact those decisions had on their lives. In today’s Be Connected episode, Dan O'Keefe focuses on a door, with a Gothic style arch above it, that's been the focus of much reminiscing in Johnston Hall, a building on the National Register of Historic places.

College students put in a lot of time and effort when it comes to selecting a university to attend and what to major in, but there's also planning along the way to help with life after graduation.  How can a student ensure he/she is making the best career choice?  When does a senior need to look for a job? How can a student plan for the future? Dan O'Keefe, a digital media major, went in search of answers by talking to Sheena Carey, the internship coordinator for the Diederich College of Communication.

James Ford Murphy has been an animator on “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters Inc.,” and the Academy Award-winning features, “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,” and “Ratatouille.” He was also the Supervising Animator on the Academy Award-winning short film, “For the Birds,” and a Directing Animator on the Golden Globe-winning feature film “Cars.” Those are just some of his contributions since he joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1996. Jim Murphy attended Marquette University and graduated from the Diederich College of Communication in 1986. When he was in Milwaukee, he stopped by the college to share his career journey and advice with students. Rome Gandelsman, a senior majoring in journalism has Murphy's story.

Imagine having over 30 years experience in sports journalism and working with noted sports journalists like Adrian Wojnarowski, Dan Wetzel and Charles Robinson. It's not something Gerry Ahern has to imagine, he experienced it when he was at Yahoo. The Marquette alum came back to campus in the spring of 2019 to share his wisdom with students in a sports journalism class. Dan O'Keefe, a digital media major, has Gerry's story.

There's a lot of freedom to experiment with film these days. Whether it's exploring a different approach to storytelling, incorporating more diversity in stories or using technology (like virtual reality, augmented reality or mixed reality), now is a time when experimentation is being encouraged. Drew Britton is a visiting assistant professor at Marquette University and an independent feature filmmaker who brings his passion for film into the classroom. Maggie Gillette, a digital media major, spoke to Drew about indie filmmaking and how he incorporates the lessons he's learned into the classroom.

Ron Smith is a Marquette graduate, professor, and director of the Neighborhood News Service.  He has been everywhere in the field of journalism, from the Marquette Tribune to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to USA Today.  Now, he's back where he started, as editor and chief of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Dan O'Keefe, a senior majoring in digital media, talked to Ron about NNS and the many hands-on learning opportunities that exist at the organization.

Today’s Be Connected episode shares the story of an alumnus who is grateful for the assistance he received from the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Marquette University. The program supports first generation college students and students from low-income families. It seems fitting for National Hispanic Heritage month (September 15-October 15) that we focus on a Latino alumnus from the Diederich College of Communication who is making a difference. His name is Luis Hernandez, who describes his most positive aptitude as his ability to adapt and improvise. Dan O’Keefe, a senior majoring in Digital media, has his story.

As the saying goes, ‘change is the only constant in life,’ and today’s episode of Be Connected focuses on a Marquette alumnus who’s gone through some big changes in the last year.   Since graduating in 2018 from the Diederich College of Communication, Matt Mallinger ended up taking a position in an unexpected medium, podcasting. Then, 11 months later, he moved over 2,000 miles from the Midwest, where he’s lived all his life. Meredith Cavaleri, a junior studying digital media, sat down to talk with Matt about these changes, and the ways he’s keeping his passion for art and music alive.

It's rare that your career path will go on a straight line from graduation to dream job. There will be many stops along the way, some expected others unexpected. Today's episode of Be Connected focuses on Marquette alumna, Dana Leonard. The 2014 graduate is currently a senior producer at SJR, a creative agency based in New York. Dana is living in London, but her position has her traveling all over the world.   She shares her story and the risks she had to take to jumpstart her career in production. She'll also reveal things she wish she knew before starting her career and give her advice to student as well. Dana was interviewed by Maggie Gillette, a junior studying digital media.    

Today’s episode of Be Connected focuses on the creative work being done by students and faculty in Helfaer Theatre. This building houses a vibrant, collaborative community that impacts students in the space and the community beyond its borders. In September, the 2019/2020 production schedule begins with the play Peter and the Star Catcher. Other shows include: Crumbs from the Table of Joy, The Theory of Relativity and Julius Caesar. Meredith Cavaleri, a digital media major, wanted to find out more about the theatre arts program at Marquette and how plays are selected. She spoke to Stephen Hudson-Mairet, the department chair, and alumnus Nick Parrot.

We all experience fear at times in our lives. It’s a powerful force that impacts our decisions and actions. People fear a lot of things from heights and needles to being confined in a small space or public speaking.  And while you can probably limit your exposure to clowns, if that's a fear, public speaking is something you do all the time. Whether it’s a presentation in front of a small group or pitching an idea to someone, possessing public speaking skills is important.  At Marquette University, there's a new resource to support students' skills in this area. It's called The MIC Speakers Lab. It was started last fall by Tracey Sturgal, a faculty member in the Diederich College of Communication. Meredith Cavaleri, a junior studying digital media, has the story.

Marquette University has its first completely online undergraduate degree that was created by faculty from the Diederich College of Communication. This new Strategic Communication major is designed for non-traditional students. Focusing on working adults is a tactical move. While there have been fewer non-traditional students in college classrooms, there has been a growth in the numbers of adults seeking online education. The focus on adults is just one change occurring in higher education. Changes in demographics, for 18 to 22-year-olds, is forcing universities to make changes to the traditional college model. Research shows that by 2026, the number of college-aged students will drop almost 15 percent in five years.* This has forced universities to look at ways to remain viable, as they compete for fewer potential students. Maggie Gillette, a junior studying digital media, wanted to find out more about this new, completely online undergraduate degree. She spoke to Dr. Kati Tusinski, who is chair of the department of Strategic Communication.  *The book Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education, by Nathan Grawe, was the primary source for that information.  

Experiential learning is gaining traction at colleges across the country. It's described as learning by doing, where theory meets practice in a 'real world' setting. Today's episode of Be Connected focuses on Hannah Engel, a Corporate Communication major in the Diederich College of Communication who is participating in a student-run business program that offers experiential learning and leadership opportunities. This summer she is hiring employees for Vida, a direct trade student run coffee shop. Two business locations will be opening in the metropolitan Milwaukee area later this summer.  Maggie Gillette, a junior majoring in Digital Media, wanted to find out about Hannah's experience with Vida through Marquette's Blue & Gold Ventures program.

The spirit of entrepreneurism is alive and well in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. Today's episode focuses on a student who turned her love of ice cream into a business while she was in college. Olivia Menzia created Liv a Little, a vegan ice cream. The advertising major just graduated in May and is in the process of expanding her business. Meredith Cavaleri, a junior majoring in Digital Media has Olivia's story.

Many college students know the importance of internships and that employers want to see career-related experience on a graduate's resume. Today’s episode of Be Connected focuses on Isaiah Gencuski, a recent Marquette University graduate who took advantage of internship opportunities to strengthen his resume and tap into his love of visual storytelling. Meredith Cavaleri, a junior majoring in digital media in the Diederich College of Communication, talked to Isaiah. 

Career opportunities can become available many times on this journey we call life. Whether we decide to pursue them or not, is a choice we make. Dr. Sarah Feldner, took advantage of an opportunity in the fall of the 2018/2019 academic year and became the acting dean in the Diederich College of Communication. She’s been in the position for several month now and Meredith Cavaleri, a junior majoring in digital media, decided to talk to her about the position and the transition on this episode of Be Connected. ***Update to this story: On May 21, 2020, Dr, Feldner was appointed to the permanent position of dean in the college.

A fond farewell to filmmaker and faculty member Joe Brown, an assistant professor of digital media who is passionate about the environment. Even though he's only been with the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University for six years, Joe's had a big impact on students and faculty here. He's moving west to his "home" in the mountains. Besides teaching and making films at the University of Denver, he's also looking forward to climbing "14ers" (mountains exceeding 14,000 feet) with his daughter Olivia and dog Bubber.   In this episode of Be Connected, Rome Gandelsman, a senior majoring in journalism, talked to Joe about his film 'Operation Wolf Patrol,' a project that took him on an unexpected journey.

Imagine being 70 and still working for an employer you've spent 51 years with. Now, visualize loving that job. Hard to fathom, but it's true for one staff member in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. Susan Clinton, director of student records and academic advising for the college, is retiring soon. Instead of being pushed out the door though, faculty and staff are wondering how we'll get along without her, because of the tremendous impact she's had on faculty, staff and students. Her final day will be in August or early September, she hasn't finalized it yet. Dan O'Keefe, a senior majoring in digital media, caught up with Sue to find out why she stayed here so long and to talk about some of the changes that have taken place during her time in the college.

An advertising major, who loves to make people laugh, found a way to tap into his passion for comedy while enrolled in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. David Klinger, who's graduating later this month, is interested in writing comedy. Dan O'Keefe, a senior majoring in digital media, has David's story.    

Several studies have shown geography plays a role in where a student goes to college. The Chronicle of Higher Education’s interactive view of freshmen enrollment trends in the U.S. shows most students stay in state or attend a university near their home state. That’s certainly the case for Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The largest percentage of the 2018/2019 freshmen class came from Illinois. (MU’s first year profile: https://www.marquette.edu/oira/fresh-dash.shtml) But what about those students who travel across several states to go to college? On today’s episode, we focus Caroline Norton, a young woman who made the more than 10 hour drive to come to MU and major in Theatre Arts in the Diederich College of Communication. Why? Dan O’Keefe, a senior majoring in Digital Media and minoring in Marketing, decided to find out.

Many students come to college and know what they want to major in, others don’t have a clue. It can cause some students a lot of anxiety trying to figure out where their best fit is. Although no one really knows where their career journey will take them, even if they have a plan. JP Bauer came to the Diederich College of Communication from Detroit, where he a attended a Jesuit high school. He also had his major selected, or at least he thought he did, but then something surprising happened at an advising session. Journalism and Political Science major Alex Milbrath shares JP’s story. The study on job changes, mentioned in the podcast, can be found on this Bureau of Labor Statics spreadsheet: http://www.bls.gov/nls/79r25jobsbyedu.xlsx 

Today's episode focuses on digital media alumnus, Michael Hendricks who graduated from the Diederich College of Communication in December of 2017. When he came to Marquette University from Mundelein, IL, a Chicago suburb, he had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do in the future. But, after participating in student media and taking writing, editing and podcasting classes, his career goals changed. Dan O'Keefe, a senior majoring in digital media, spoke to Michael about his journey.   Here are links to Michael's audio, which was mentioned in the podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-470109727/what-happened-with-cyrus https://soundcloud.com/user-979214501 His podcast A Pleasant Chat with Your Friend Charles is also available on Apple Podcasts. Michael has published one book, a science fiction novel called The Lies of Cape Reign. He plans to never stop writing.

Today's episode focuses on journalism alumnus, Aaron Maybin. The 2015 graduate of the Diederich College of Communication is currently a reporter at Fox 6 news in Milwaukee, WI. Maybin, who grew up in the Milwaukee area, didn't initially want to go to Marquette University, but something changed his mind. He talks about the four years he spent here and has some advice for current students. Maybin was interviewed by sophomore journalism student, Alex Milbrath for the Be Connected podcast.  If you'd like to see some of Aaron Maybin's stories, check out this link: https://fox6now.com/author/amaybinfox6/ 

Visiting your alma mater can be a great opportunity to connect with old friends and see the changes that have happened on campus since you graduated. At Marquette University, there are two weekends that draw large crowds of alumni, Homecoming in the fall and Marquette Day in the spring. Alumni of all ages were roaming the halls of Johnston Hall and reminiscing as they visited an open house on the second floor. Dan O'Keefe, a senior majoring in Digital Media, spoke to several alumni as they visited their old stomping grounds in the Diederich College of Communication. If you'd like to see what the renovated space looks like, visit: https://stories.marquette.edu/johnston-hall-reimagined-8f9afe84f66 

A new creative space is taking shape in the basement of Johnston Hall in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. Dan O'Keefe, a senior majoring in digital media, decided to check it out. He spoke with two assistant professors in Digital Media and Performing Arts, Joe Brown and Kris Holodak.

Big changes to Johnston Hall in the fall of 2018, as the student media offices moved from the basement to the second floor. The new space features cutting edge technology, audio and video studios and more. Alex Milbrath, a sophomore journalism and political science major, spoke to Mark Zoromski, the director of student media, to find out how these changes came about, what they cost and what technology students get to use.

Recent initiatives in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University have created new opportunities for students. Sophomore Alex Milbrath, a journalism and political scientist major, spoke to the person responsible for the changes, Dr. Kimo Ah Yun. ***Update to this story: On October 31, 2018, Dr. Ah Yun became the acting provost at Marquette. On December 2, 2019, he was named the permanent provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He is a first-generation college student and the first person of color to serve as provost at Marquette University.