JMC Alumni Spotlight: Vanessa Garcia

• What was your major and how did you select it? Did anything influence your decision?

  • I received my Master’s in Mass Communications. I chose it because I wanted to pursue a career in either marketing or journalism. Luckily, the program has an emphasis in both.

• Did you enjoy your time, while in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications? How was it interacting with peers and professors, while enrolled at San José State University?

  • I enjoyed getting to know the different professors. They each have their area of expertise, so depending on what you’re interested in you can find someone to help mentor you in the direction that you want to move your career in. Since my thesis was interdisciplinary, I had the opportunity to have a professor from the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department. I feel like the students in the Master’s program were a tight-knit group of people. Some of our classes were quite small and a lot of us ended up having the same classes together. This made it easy for us to know one another, form study groups, and seek out each other’s support.

• What was your first job after graduating from San José State University? What career did you pursue and why?

  • My first job after graduating SJSU was as a Local Marketing Specialist at IKEA in East Palo Alto. After graduating, I decided to pursue a career in marketing because it’s an area that I’ve always been interested in, and I really wanted to help companies expand their brand messages. IKEA has always been known as a great company to work for because of their values, sustainable efforts, and community giving. I found it to be a good fit because I could mix my love for research, my interest in marketing, and passion for corporate social responsibility – all in one role.

• What is your advice for graduating students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San José State University?

  • I think it’s important to maintain connections with your classmates because as you get out into the real world, you’ll understand the value of networking and how important it is to make professional connections with other people that you have similar interests in. Some of your classmates are the future startup VPs, social media influencers, digital entrepreneurs, and Fortune 500 go-getters, so don’t forget to make some friends along the way and stay in touch with them. Also, if you’re working on a thesis create something that could help you land a job when you graduate but don’t create anything that’s too complicated – keep it simple. And lastly, I wish I would have taken more elective classes at the time, so take advantage of those opportunities to learn while you’re there.

• What is your advice for prospective students interested in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San José State University?

  • Do your research on the program to see if the courses align with your personal and professional goals. I think it’s also important to do your research on the faculty because they can be helpful as mentors and guides throughout your academic career. Aligning with a faculty member who’s an expert in what you’re interested in can really help with any career questions you have.