Luke graduated from Millersville University in December 2022 and majored in Communications with a concentration in Digital Communication and Cultural Studies. He received his associates at HACC Community College in Human Communication in May 2021. He now works at Leviton and started in June 2023 and works as the Human Resources Coordinator in New Holland, PA.
Can you tell us a little about what you are doing post-graduation?
At Leviton as the human resources coordinator, Luke is in charge of recruiting for manufacturing, sales positions, and IT. He also partakes in on-boarding for new hire orientation.
Why did you choose Digital Communication and Cultural Studies?
When Luke came to Millersville and transferred over, his advisor at Millersville suggested that he would be a good fit based on his associate’s degree and his interest in working with people and learning about digital media and different cultures. Overall, he really liked the concentration and thought it was a great experience.
Can you share a few of your most notable experiences as a member of this concentration?
Luke really appreciated the professors at Millersville in the communication department. He believes they were really easy to communicate with and they made their office hours open and available to everyone. He really enjoyed building professional relations with the professors and growing his professional self. One professor that really stood out to him was Dr.Boyle, he shared that he did a great job at teaching students how to really connect with the work
What was your motivation?
Luke shared that nowadays it is really important to be well-versed with technology as it continues to evolve and grow and having this desire to learn about it, encouraged him to work hard so he was able to achieve his goals. In his current role, he has to collaborate with the marketing team and stay up to date on everything going on and this helps him have that motivation to keep learning.
Do you have any recommendations for prospective students?
One piece of advice he has for prospective students is to grow in your public speaking skills and a communications degree with a concentration in digital communication and culture studies is a great place to do so. It helps open your eyes to new and different cultures and learn how they communicate differently. DCCS really helps you become well-rounded and helps you gain confidence for speaking in front of a crowd.
Can you tell us a little about what you are doing post-graduation?
I am a communication coordinator at N.W Works here in Virginia. I create content and media for N.W Works to promote their message of inclusivity within the community. I always wanted to work for non-profits, however, I didn’t think I would be able to so soon in my professional career. Currently, the organization is undergoing a complete rebranding, the first since the company originated over 50 years ago, to become I guess you can say “more modernized.” It’s been amazing to use my creative input and help develop a new website, social media presence, and an overall company redesign.
At first, the workforce felt very intimidating, however, I joined a team that has been nothing short of amazing. My team has supported me as I adjusted to this position, and I am constantly appreciated by the work I produce. It’s very satisfying knowing that not only doing good for my community, but I am also being seen by my company.
Why did you choose Digital Communication and Cultural Studies?
I studied communication studies which was rebranded to Digital Communication and Cultural Studies while I was studying. So, in a way, Digital Communication and Cultural Studies chose me. This major provided me with a lot of skills that I use to help reach my company’s benchmarks and my own personal benchmarks. I knew this path was correct for me. It stood out to me because it favored creativity in content and showed me so many different ways content can not only be displayed, but also how to display them.
Can you share a few of your most notable experiences as a member of this concentration?
The two classes that first come to mind are, Interpersonal Communication and Intercultural Communication. I have always had an interest in opening up conversations between individuals . As a social person, I enjoy meeting new people and I love to see my own circle grow. However, these classes showed me how to open other individuals’ social circles. The insight from those courses have really given me a stronger perspective when it comes to my job at N.W Works. One of the last classes I took was Digital Media Writing, and during my application process, N.W Works asked if I had any writing I had done that they could use when considering me and I submitted the blogs I wrote for class. I was told they were beyond impressed. I definitely have that class to thank for getting me this job. We also run our website through WordPress, which was especially helpful since that was the platform my blogs were written on.
Outside of being a Digital Communication and Cultural Studies major, I also minored in Graphic Communication Technology, and the material I learned in that class have been especially useful. I would say over ¾ of the material I learned in those courses I have already used in my short time here at N.W Works.
The clubs and organizations at Millerville were amazing. I interned at Millersville, and I was an involved member of the communication department, and I would say that I gained as much knowledge in my clubs as my internship. Not only that, but the content you make in clubs and the various communication events have allowed me to build a strong portfolio. The practical offerings I got from Millersville have helped me immensely.
I work so closely with social media, and these writing classes are as important as anything else. I will say that I wish I had taken more business-related communication classes. We host a plethora of fundraisers and community events, and marketing plays a huge role in that. While I am learning more business applications, I am fortunate to have a strong team around me that can offer me guidance when needed.
What was your motivation?
Digital Communications is a very public industry. I get competitive and look at both my coworkers writing and work, as well as the other non-profits in my area. I selfishly like to compare my work to theirs and try to do the best work possible. But ultimately, my goal is to help N.W Works to reach its company goals. We are very community driven, and these are the fights I wanted to be a part of when I got this position. I have always wanted to help my community, and now I can. So, my motivation is based on what I have a genuine interest in.
It’s funny, because my boss and I were also recently speaking on this topic. We had a whole conversation about this and we both agreed that it was important to work with your specific interests. It’s clear that everyone here has similar goals, and if someone didn’t truly believe in this organization, it would be extremely obvious. I would preach that all day. I am so motivated to come to work everyday because I am working towards something I care about.
Do you have any recommendations towards prospective students?
The Millersville Digital Communication and Cultural Studies concentration has helped shape my professional life. I gained an immense amount of insight into multiple areas of communication. When I graduated, I asked myself how much of this will I actually use, and it turns out that I use almost all of it, even the parts I thought I would never see. The communication department here is very strong and was especially helpful in leading me to meet new people. The professors and staff helped me through the highs and lows of my academic journey and their support truly meant a lot to me.
When communication studies first transitioned to Digital Communication and Cultural Studies, I was a little nervous as to how impactful it would be for me, however, I could not be happier with my decision. More importantly, prioritize going down a path you feel comfortable in, both in and out of school. The right opportunities will present themselves and it is important to be happy with what you do and who you do it for.
