As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, institutions across the country are reflecting on the people and communities that have shaped the nation's history and future. For Michigan State University Strategic Communication Online M.A. student Chelsey Cameron, that work includes helping Native American students see themselves represented in higher education and expanding access to educational opportunities through strategic communication.
For Chelsey Cameron, pursuing a graduate degree meant finding a program that could fit alongside a full-time career, community leadership and raising three children.
Now, the Michigan State University Strategic Communication Online M.A. (StratCom) student is using what she learns in the StratCom program to strengthen communication efforts at Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) and help Native American students see themselves reflected in higher education marketing.
Building a career through strategic communication
“I was interested in the program to do what I do at BMCC better,” Cameron said. As the first employee at Bay Mills Community College dedicated exclusively to marketing, she said the program is helping her build the skills needed to strengthen the college's communications efforts and support future growth.
Cameron, who is from the Bay Mills Indian Community near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, works as the media and marketing specialist at Bay Mills Community College, Michigan's first tribal college. In her role, she leads marketing and communication efforts aimed at connecting with current and prospective students.
Although her undergraduate degree is in psychology, Cameron said communication-focused responsibilities consistently followed her throughout previous jobs, eventually leading her toward strategic communication and higher education marketing.
“I don’t have anybody above me to learn from,” Cameron said. “The program’s really helping me learn so I can not only do the job better, but hopefully we’ll be able to build our team and I could be that person for the people who join our team.”
Cameron said MSU’s reputation, combined with the flexibility of the online format, made the StratCom program the right fit for her personal and professional goals.
“It just wouldn’t be possible for me to pursue a graduate degree, let alone in this specific field, unless I were to pick up and move away,” Cameron said. “And with my three children, I just can’t do that.”
Applying classroom learning to real-world impact
Now in her third semester and on track to graduate in 2027, Cameron said one of the most valuable aspects of the program has been applying coursework directly to real-world communication challenges at work.
One current class project focuses on helping her college better connect with Native American students living in urban areas such as Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
“As a Native American, I understand culture and the Indigenous mindset to be able to formulate messaging and visuals that would speak to Native students and hopefully inspire them to get into higher education or continue their higher education,” Cameron said.
She said representation in higher education marketing matters, especially for Native communities that have historically been underrepresented in higher education and the communications professions that help shape institutional outreach.
Beyond graduate coursework and her professional role, Cameron is also involved with several Indigenous LGBTQ+ organizations, helping organize events and initiatives that support Native LGBTQ+ communities.
Finding balance and building connections
Despite balancing work, graduate school and family life, Cameron said staying organized and working ahead has helped her manage competing responsibilities.
“I just really try to not procrastinate and try not to get it all done at once,” Cameron said. “If I can get just a little bit done each week, it helps.”
Cameron also said the online learning environment has still created opportunities for meaningful connection within the StratCom program’s smaller cohort model.
“There’s quite a few people where I’m like, ‘I know that name. I was in class with them before,’” Cameron said.
Continuing a family legacy while creating new opportunities
For Cameron, earning an MSU degree also carries personal significance tied to her family's history with the university. Her grandfather attended Michigan State College in the 1920s, connecting her educational journey to a century-long story of Native participation in higher education during a period when Indigenous voices were often absent from many institutions.
Now, Cameron is continuing that Spartan connection while helping ensure that more Native students see themselves reflected in higher education. Through her work in strategic communication, she hopes to expand educational opportunities and strengthen representation in a field where Indigenous voices remain underrepresented.
“I’m really looking forward to being somebody that could help fill the gap of Indigenous professionals in higher education communications,” Cameron said. “I’m just one person, but it’s a start.”
The Strategic Communication Online M.A. program helps professionals strengthen skills in strategic messaging, digital communication, branding and leadership, all in a flexible online format designed for working students.
Learn more about the MSU StratCom program and how to apply.
By Claire Dippel