Stefanie Chae (G ‘23) Publishes Essay on the Benefits of Communications Degrees in Business Insider

Communication, Culture & Technology (CCT) alumna Stefanie Chae (G ‘23) recently published an essay in Business Insider highlighting the benefits of a communications degree.

In her essay, Chae reflects on her education at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) and Georgetown University’s Communication, Culture and Technology Master’s program. She emphasizes how the skills and experiences she gained while pursuing her communications degrees prepared her for success in her current role as a Digital Studies Professor in UMW’s Communication and Digital Studies department. “When approached thoughtfully, a communication program teaches how to facilitate social and professional relationships, influence a nation, and engage critically with the media that runs our society, ” Chae writes. 

At CCT, Chae’s research interests included film and media studies, as well as the sociology of media practices. CCT’s interdisciplinary nature encouraged her to explore how her varied interests in social media, graphic design, policy, and communications could work together. She served as a Media Editor for the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS) and published a paper in the gnovis Journal titled “Spring Aesthetics and Social Statements: An Ideological Critique of Bridgerton.” Beyond her research on media and culture, the essential skills she developed–such as collaboration, critical thinking, and public speaking–prepared her for a fulfilling career in higher education. 

“With the soft skills I developed in my major, I realized I could succeed in many fields post-graduation. I’m now teaching my students the importance of media literacy.”

Learn more about Chae’s experience at CCT here.  

To learn more about CCT’s interdisciplinary academic pathways, find more information here.