I wasn't just chasing a degree; I wanted growth. I wanted to build a future that truly aligns with who I am.

What does receiving the Outstanding Graduate Student Award mean to you personally and professionally?

My adviser reached out to me and told me that I was nominated a few days before graduation, so that was a big, wonderful surprise for me. I am really grateful and honored to receive this award. It means so much to me.

Professionally, this award is incredibly affirming because it shows that I didn't just complete the program – I distinguished myself in it. I'm now applying the knowledge and foundation from this degree to everything I do. Every decision, every strategy, and every piece of communication I create has strengthened how I think, how I plan, and how I lead. It's even given me more confidence moving forward as I continue to build my career because it taught me to build a career rooted in purposeful storytelling and making sure that it has a meaningful impact.

 

What aspects of the Robertson School’s graduate program had the greatest impact on your growth?

The program impacted my growth in both practical and personal ways. Academically, it pushed me to think more strategically. Not just what I'm communicating, but why and how to communicate with intention, credibility, and evidence behind it. I grew a lot in my ability to do research, to synthesize information, and to create messaging that's grounded in purpose and a real understanding of the audience. You really need to understand who the audience is and who the stakeholders are.

What I appreciated most was how the program blended theory with real-world applications. It wasn't just a concept for the sake of a class; we were constantly applying what we learned to real communication challenges. We learned a lot about theory and how people don't make decisions based on information alone. You have to consider attitudes, social norms, and how someone actually takes action. That completely changed the way I think about communication because it taught me how to design messaging that's not only creative, but also behavioral and strategic. There are a lot of aspects that go into creating a message. What I learned from the program was invaluable. 

 

Can you talk about a challenge you faced during your graduate studies and how you overcame it?

One challenge I faced during my graduate studies was managing the intensity of the workload. I hold myself to very high standards, and there were times when it felt very overwhelming. Not because I wasn't capable, but because I genuinely cared. I wanted every assignment to reflect my best work every time, and that can create a lot of pressure from within.

I overcame that by becoming more intentional with how I manage my time and mindset. I lean into structure by planning ahead, not doing everything last minute, breaking big assignments into smaller steps, and staying more disciplined with deadlines because we have deadlines every week. I also had to learn how to give myself grace and focus more on progress, not perfection. That shift helped me stay confident even in the most demanding semesters, and honestly, what kept me going was reminding myself why I came back in the first place. I wasn't just chasing a degree; I wanted growth. I wanted to build a future that truly aligns with who I am. Keeping that bigger purpose in my mind helped me push through and finish strong. 

 

In what ways have you contributed to the Robertson School community?

I contributed to the Robertson School community by showing up consistently as a positive and engaged member of the program. There were many different personalities in the program, with the cohort having people who came from different walks of life. I've always tried to be someone who supports others, whether that means collaborating thoughtfully in group projects or contributing meaningfully to discussions. I value creating spaces where people feel comfortable sharing ideas and feel supported in their work. So, I always showed up positively. 

One example that really stands out to me was the capstone class. The capstone was our demonstration of everything that we learned – all the research, messaging, strategy, and collaboration – and applied it to a real client. I knew I had to show up every day because my team really needed me. We partnered with a nonprofit organization to strengthen donor engagement, and I took that responsibility seriously because it was a real client, and we wanted to reach donors. It mattered to me to lead by example, to stay dependable, and to contribute in a way that helped keep our team organized and focused and successful because we really needed to collaborate and work as a team. I took that seriously. I showed up every day as the best version of myself.

I also take pride in the behind-the-scenes contributions that strengthen the community. This includes being reliable, offering thoughtful feedback, and doing my part to make collaborative work successful. I represented the school not only through the quality of my work but also through the way I carried myself professionally. To me, contribution isn't always loud or visible. Sometimes it's simply just being consistent, supportive, steady, and helping raise the level of excellence in all the spaces that I'm part of.

 

How do you plan to carry what you learned at VCU into your future career?

I left the program with a stronger ability to craft messaging with intention, connect storytelling to meaningful impact, and apply the strategic foundation the program gave me to everything I do – from how I plan and communicate to how I make decisions.

 

What advice would you give to future Robertson School graduate students?

My advice would be to truly lean into the process, even when it feels uncomfortable or overwhelming. You will get those moments where you ask yourself, “Where am I going with this? Was this the right decision?” It can be overwhelming. There'll be moments when the workload feels heavy and you question, again, if you're doing enough. But trust me, growth is happening in those moments. Growth is happening when you're being challenged that way. So, stay consistent. Stay focused and don't be afraid to ask for feedback because I was always asking for my professors’ feedback on anything I did, because they come with a wealth of invaluable knowledge and expertise.

Some of my biggest growth came from being willing to reflect, revise, and improve. I would also stay organized. Time management is everything in this program. Break assignments into smaller steps and don't wait until the last minute. Give yourself some structure because this program can be demanding. It’s also preparing you for the real world because the real world isn't always easy. And most importantly, bring your full self into the program. And by that I mean, bring your life experiences because there are a couple of classes there where the professors ask you to tell them about yourself, your experiences in the past, and what you can bring forward. So bring your life experiences, your values, your story because everyone’s experience is unique. All of that matters in communications. Show up with that authenticity and put in that work. Don't just finish the program. You come out of it stronger and more confident in who you are.