Roy Woods Jr. MCM'21 recently accepted a new position as the Director of Communications at Springpoint, one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest nonprofit providers of residential and home-based services and programs for seniors. He credits the Master of Communication and Media program for preparing him to be in a leadership position and providing an excellent platform for developing his communications skills. Roy gives us insight into his decision-making process and career path.

SC&I: Why SC&I?

RW: When I decided to pursue the MCM, my first choice was always Rutgers. My mom and brother attended Rutgers, so I constantly heard stories about their great experiences. I also had several colleagues over the years who earned their undergrad and graduate degrees from Rutgers. Every one of them had positive things to say.

SC&I: You have a lot of experience in the communications field. Describe your career path.

RW: I got my first real opportunity to work in the communications field when I spent eight years as a communications specialist at Educational Testing Services, a nonprofit educational company. I later worked as a communications technician at the New Jersey Office of Information Technology for nine years. In this position, I worked with a team that assisted different state departments with their communications needs, including the Governor's Office and the Departments of Education, Health, and Taxation. I found my love for organizational communications through these positions.

SC&I: How did the MCM help you achieve success?

RW: The most valuable part of the MCM program for me was its preparation for real-world situations. All of my professors integrated their professional experiences into their curriculum and training modules. This gave me the dual benefit of gaining technical knowledge and understanding how to implement that knowledge into the different situations I would encounter throughout my professional career.

SC&I: What skills do you apply to your current work?

RW: Teaching Professor Richard Dool's “Organizational Change & Communication” class prepared me to assess an organization's culture. Dr. Dool teaches that if leaders want to truly understand an organization's culture, they have to get out of their office, walk around, and talk to people. In Michael Bzdak's class, “Communication & Society,” I learned how to prioritize and develop a proper strategic plan. The course load for his class was demanding—to succeed, I had to have a detailed strategic plan. I use these same techniques when working on a project or formulating a plan at my current organization.

SC&I: What advice would you offer to someone considering pursuing the MCM degree?

RW: My advice for anyone considering pursuing the MCM degree at Rutgers is to take the leap and apply. You will gain real-world experience and practical knowledge from seasoned professors that will serve you in the future. There are still times that I will review past lectures and assignments to help me with a complex project. I communicate often with many of my former classmates, sharing our best practices and lessons learned. I left SC&I with an MCM degree, an excellent education, and a vast professional network. Pursuing the MCM degree was one of the best decisions I've made in my professional career.

Photo: Courtesy of Roy Woods Jr. MCM'21