When we last interviewed Kiara Dunston MCM’20, she was putting her communication skills to work for the Greater Bergen Communication Action, Inc., one of Northern N.J.’s leading anti-poverty agencies. In late 2022, she accepted a position as Communications Manager for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and we couldn’t be more proud. As one of the country’s largest student-governed organizations, NSBE’s mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community." Dunston, who holds a Master of Media and Communication from SC&I and a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism with a concentration in Sports Management from Hampton University in Hampton, Va., reflected on her journey.

SC&I: How would you describe your graduate school experience?

KD: My graduate school experience at SC&I was fulfilling and rewarding. I chose the Communication and Media Studies specialization. With this general specialization, students create a self-designed course of study that draws across any MCM specialization as well as courses in other areas at SC&I. I loved that this specialization allowed me to curate my own curriculum. Wanting to make it as well-rounded as possible, I chose to study public relations, media, crisis communication, and organizational communication, to name a few. I also appreciated the diversity of my classmates and the professionalism of the experienced professors.

SC&I: What interests you about the communication field?

KD: Choosing the communication path is not a cookie-cutter journey. What you get out of it—and where you land—is different for everyone. That’s the beauty of the variance communication and media offers: there’s a host of lanes to choose from, and they all blend into one another, making your skills transferable. As I moved from being a copywriter to marketing products and then on to higher-level marketing and communications work for bigger agencies, all that I learned from MCM prepared me to effectively fulfill those roles.

SC&I: What impact did SC&I’s faculty have on your education?

KD: Teaching Professor Richard Dool, who’s also the MCM Program Director, truly had a significant impact on my time as an MCM student. His style of teaching is so relatable and it really resonated with me. Aside from the coursework, he made sure my time there was fulfilling. He was invested in my success and was there whenever I needed anything; I will always be grateful to him. Part-time faculty member Kenneth Mizrach, who taught Organizational Decision Making, also had a positive impact on me.

SC&I: How did the MCM program prepare you for your current position?

KD: All my MCM coursework—from public relations to organizational change, digital media, and much more—is relevant to all I do in my role at NSBE. What I learned informs every part of my work in the Marketing and Communications department and within the organization. Working for a nonprofit currently, the knowledge I learned in my Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) course helps me understand the value we offer to large, for-profit corporations and how to leverage those relationships in a mutually beneficial way. Similarly, as communications manager for NSBE, the knowledge I learned in my Crisis Communication course has prepared me to know how to have a plan in place and respond to situations accordingly. Additionally, what I learned in my Organizational Communication course helps me with some of my internal communication responsibilities as I understand best practices and approaches as well as tactics to communicate effectively across the organization.

SC&I: What advice do you have for anyone considering the MCM program?

KD: My advice is to GO FOR IT! The professors are invested in teaching and setting you up to succeed. Not only will the MCM degree put you ahead of other job applicants, it’ll give you the hands-on understanding that you will need when you land the job of your dreams.