Q: What was your background prior to starting the HRCMA program?
I originally came to MSU hoping to study business. It turns out business was not for me, leaving me very depressed during my first part of undergrad. I ended up at the communication college instead, where I graduated with a specialty in mediated communication.
Q: What have you done since joining the program?
Since joining the program, I’ve taken some classes on journalism and research methods. I got to work for the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals as the photographer for their conference this February. My practicum experience was this summer for the Grand Rapids LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium. If you look at their Instagram, many of the posts from July to this December will feature my work! (1, 2, 3)
Q: What is your favorite thing about the HRCMA program?
My favorite thing about the program is my cohort. I’m part of a group of scholars, all of us with our own passions and plans, and it has been a great experience studying alongside them.
Q: Why did you pick the HRC MA program?
In the final year of my undergrad program, I was still feeling unsure of where I wanted to go for a career. I wanted to do something meaningful, something that I felt would actually make a difference. The HRCMA provided an opportunity to study something just like that. It gave me a sense of purpose.
Q: What has been your favorite class and why?
I greatly enjoyed JRN 873, about science journalism. Our class had so many deep discussions about journalism and its role in public discourse. It helped me narrow the focus of my master’s thesis. This was also the class where I met the professor that I eventually asked to be my advisor!
Q: When will you be graduating and what are your plans after graduation?
I hope to graduate in Spring 2024. I’m planning to apply for a PhD program afterwards. I’d like to continue researching how we talk about health.