The School of Communication and Information (SC&I), Rutgers University-New Brunswick, will hold its graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Jersey Mike’s Arena (formerly the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC)) on the Rutgers Livingston campus.
1039 students will graduate with SC&I degrees. Of those, over 800 undergraduates will receive Bachelor of Arts degrees. SC&I offers BA degrees in: Communication; Information Technology and Informatics (ITI); and Journalism and Media Studies (JMS). 320 undergraduates are graduating with minors in either the Digital Communication, Information, and Media Minor (DCIM), or the Gender and Media Minor.
This is the first year in several decades that undergraduate students can graduate with two SC&I majors. Of the numbers above, there are 5 SC&I students graduating with double majors, all of them combining Communication with Journalism and Media Studies.
In addition to the undergraduates being celebrated at commencement, over 200 graduate students will earn degrees from SC&I this year. SC&I’s graduate programs include the Master of Communication and Media (MCM); Master of Health Communication and Information (MHCI); Master of Information (MI); and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
I’m really going to miss the SC&I community, because everyone is so helpful, collaborative, deeply engaged, and creative. Special shout out to Alex Library and Efes Cafe for facilitating all my study/ work and coffee endeavors.
The 2023 undergraduate student convocation speaker will be Samantha Marshak, who majored in Journalism and Media Studies and Cognitive Science, and minored in Philosophy. She is in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) Honors Program, she has been on the Dean’s List every semester during her Rutgers career, a member of Kappa Tau Alpha “a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication,” has been inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and is a Certified Peer Leader via the Center for Supportive Schools.
“I’m extremely honored to have been selected to speak during the SC&I convocation as a student representative of SC&I’s vibrant community,” Marshak said. “The SC&I community is a network of diverse, deeply passionate, and hardworking individuals who truly care about the impact their work has. I’m always learning from the people around me, and feel grateful that I have a chance to also leave a positive legacy, just as all those from this community have impacted me.”
Post-graduation, Marshak plans to pursue journalistic opportunities either domestically or abroad, and has plans to go to graduate school after being in the workforce for a few years.
Looking to the future, Marshak said, “I can’t wait to explore the opportunities that come my way and never stop learning.”
Read our Q&A with Marshak to learn about her years at Rutgers, including her experiences doing legal academia for corporate and immigration law firms in Israel, working on the Communications team for the Office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, her work as a news writer for The Daily Targum, and more.
Why did you decide to study three academic areas (JMS, Cognitive Science, and Philosophy), and gain an understanding of practicing law through internships? Has this combination helped you become a better journalist and if so, how?
I decided to study JMS, Cognitive Science, and Philosophy during my undergraduate career because my interests have always been varied and diverse. I thought it would be a limitation to my education to pursue only one area of study. I’ve always been passionate about the power of writing as a form of self-expression and as a medium for the public good, hence majoring in journalism. I have also always been interested in psychology, neuroscience, and law. I feel I’ve been able to explore the intersection of cognitive science and philosophy through many courses here at Rutgers, allowing me to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of how the mind works and functions.
“The SC&I community is a network of diverse, deeply passionate, and hardworking individuals who truly care about the impact their work has. I’m always learning from the people around me, and feel grateful that I have a chance to also leave a positive legacy, just as all those from this community have impacted me.”
I think having an interdisciplinary education will prepare me for any of my future endeavors, whether I decide to pursue journalism entirely, become an attorney, or venture into new sectors that arise. Throughout my undergraduate career, I thought that I definitely wanted to go to law school, but during my senior year, I realized it would be a disservice to my career if I didn’t try to pursue journalism before committing to law school. I hope that in the future, I can find ways to re-explore all of my interests, delving deeper into matters that involve public interest.
What experiences did you gain through your internship with Governor Phil Murphy’s office, your other internships, and your work as a Targum reporter?
Working for the Office of the Governor has been a great experience. I have enjoyed becoming better acquainted and versed in Jersey politics, events, and happenings. If anything, it’s definitely made me have more appreciation for the state I grew up in. Particularly, I’ve enjoyed writing scripts and interview responses for the Governor because it has given me a better understanding of writing for a public audience. I have loved all of my experiences, both on and off-campus, including writing for a magazine, conducting research on voter suppression with Aresty, writing for the Targum, working at different law firms and at a pharmaceutical branding agency, and serving on the University’s hearing board.
All have been invaluable in the sense of becoming a professional and developing the necessary skills to be collaborative and helpful, wherever I go.
What are a few of the skills and ideas you will take away from Rutgers, having majored in Journalism and Media Studies?
What are some of the messages you hope to convey to the other graduates and their families and guests during your speech?
I hope to convey:
The best advice I could give is to get involved in everything and anything that you even remotely think you might be interested in. At least attend one meeting, if you don’t bother to go to any others.
Do you have any advice (including time management tips) to offer your fellow JMS majors, other SC&I majors, and incoming Rutgers students who are considering majoring in JMS?
To my fellow graduates, JMS majors, and incoming RU students considering majoring in journalism – you should be led by your passions with the understanding that success will inevitably come.
In terms of study habits and time management, there is no one size fits all. Plan out all your due dates in terms of exams and quizzes once you get your syllabi for the semester, so you are not surprised by looming deadlines.
But in general, the best advice I could give is to get involved in everything and anything that you even remotely think you might be interested in. At least attend one meeting, if you don’t bother to go to any others. Freshman year is the time to be open to all new experiences and knowledge, as the following years branch off the basis built during the first year of college.
During freshman orientation, I learned that you need to be your own biggest advocate at a school as big as Rutgers, and that has rang true in my ears during all this time. Simply put, that means taking charge of your own journey. Ask for help. Ask questions.
What will you miss the most about Rutgers and SC&I?
I love the accessibility of the resources and facilities at Rutgers. Being a part of the campus community, hanging out with my friends at all hours, and getting to know so many different people have been the best and most impactful experiences. I’m also really going to miss the SC&I community, because everyone is so helpful, collaborative, deeply engaged, and creative. Special shout out to Alex Library and Efes Cafe for facilitating all my study/ work and coffee endeavors.
Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.
Photo: Courtesy of Samantha Marshak
