Guest speakers at the Communication Mix and Mingle event on Sept. 29 shared about finding different internship opportunities for students to gain experience in the field.
Brendan Scott, a senior from Arizona studying political science, talked about his internship at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and Paul Lam discussed different opportunities available at the company SERVCO.
Scott said he was invited to speak at the event by Dixie Lee Johnson, one of the vice presidents. Scott said he was unsure about how the event was going to go, but thought it was good to show what options are out in the communication field.
“Everyone needs to communicate. It can be involved with everything,” Scott said. He discussed doing public affairs for the embassy and dealing with the press, such as press conferences and social media.
Bryce Marvin, a senior from Oregon studying international cultural studies, and president of the Communications Student Association, said, “We wanted to provide an opportunity for students to see different fields in communications with their degree… the light at the end of the tunnel.” Marvin said he thought it was a great turnout, with approximately 35 students in attendance.
Marvin said the association provided answers to the students’ questions about careers. He said it might have been different then what some students suspected. “Just like in our classes, it’s not the content, but how it’s delivered,” he said.
Daniel LeBaron, a senior from Utah studying international cultural studies, said he enjoyed hearing about Scott's experiences in Ukraine. "I felt those were interesting and it was cool to see how he was using things I have learned in ICS in an actual real-life situation,” he said.
Daniel Stout, the association advisor, said one of the goals of the club “is to build a bridge between their academic studies and the professional world.”
“This event gave students a chance to hear from professionals in their fields, so they might get a broader knowledge of the types of career opportunities in the communications field,” said Stout.
Taimi Gutierrez, a senior from the Philippines studying international cultural studies, said she would have liked to see more people who have done communications outside the country.
Gutierrez also said she would prefer a more casual environment next time. “I think they should leave their e-mail address or contact information next time.,” said Taimi.
Writer: Stephanie Soto