Alum Success Story: Veronica Garabelli

Veronica Garabelli

Name: Veronica Garabelli
Degrees: M.S. in Mass Communications from VCU, 2011; Multimedia Journalism
Current role: Journalism Instructor, VCU Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture

I can truly say that earning a master's in Multimedia Journalism was instrumental through each stage of my career.

What influenced your decision to attend the Robertson School's M.S. in Mass Communications program? 

I graduated in 2010 from the Robertson School with a degree in Print Journalism, but I still wanted to bolster my video, audio and photography skills, so the Multimedia Journalism Master's program was the perfect solution. It helped me expand those skills and provided me with valuable connections to the industry that helped me land a creative producer position after graduation and positioned me for a seven-year career as a business journalist. I eventually decided to try - and fell in love - with teaching j-skills to journalism students. The master's degree allowed me the credentials and expertise to switch to a career in academia as a journalism instructor. I can truly say that earning a master's in Multimedia Journalism was instrumental through each stage of my career. 

What about the program did you find most useful in your current career?

I would not have been qualified to apply for my current position if it wasn't for a Master's in Multimedia Journalism as a master's degree was specifically required. 

What are you most proud of from your graduate school experience?

I traveled to Beijing and Shanghai to learn about journalism and public relations practices in China. We toured the Associated Press headquarters and major public relations firms. I reported on the growing expat population in China, and I also completed a special project on the decrease in adoptions from China in preparation for the trip. The trip opened my eyes to a new culture and shaped my reporting to look at the impact of events locally and internationally.