MAPC students use the professional communication knowledge developed in the program to further a variety of interests. About 40 students are active in the program. The following profiles provide examples of the range of interests and goals of a few current MAPC students.
Sarah Brown
Birmingham, AL
Specialization: Digital Communication
Sarah joined the MAPC program having received a BA in History from Furman University. Sarah currently works in Greenville, SC for Christ Church Episcopal School as their Director of Summer Programs. Having worked in several different jobs since college graduation, Sarah wanted to return to school in order to gain the skills needed to continue growing in her career field. After researching a number of programs in the Southeast, Sarah chose the MAPC program due to its broad range of specialization options. Sarah said that she “could not find another program that allowed for such versatility in class options. The broad range of specializations allow for you to pursue whatever interests you!” Sarah hopes to work with graphic design and communications within the camping industry.
Susan Collins
Harrisburg, PA
Specialization: Digital Publishing
After earning her BA in English Communication/Technology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Collins chose to join the MAPC program. In the future, Collins says she would like to find a job in the field of web development or digital publishing and hopes the skills she learns in the MAPC program will set her apart from other candidates. After taking class in web design, Collins learned how to create, manipulate and publish web sites. “I knew I needed something else,” she says, “something that would set me apart, and I think Clemson's Professional Communication program is able to offer me that through the digital publishing concentration.” Collins also likes being able to customize her curriculum and choose between a thesis and project at the end of the degree.
Melissa Constante
Bridgeport, WV
Specialization: Corporate Communication
Melissa joined the MAPC program as a dual degree candidate after completing her first year in Clemson’s MBA program. Melissa earned a BS in economics from West Virginia University. After completing her undergraduate studies, she worked as a financial consultant for the global AXA Group for four years before returning to graduate school. Melissa hopes to combine her two areas of study into a career in corporate communication, human resources or public relations.
Heather Dunn
Fort Mill, SC
Specialization: Corporate Communication
Heather graduated from Clemson University in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communications and a minor in Communications with an emphasis on Advertising. While in school, Heather completed two commercial printing internships, one in Cincinnati, OH and one in Charlotte, NC. After taking a course in advertising, Heather decided to pursue a career in either advertising or public relations, which led her to the MAPC program. Heather specifically chose the MAPC program to “reach my goals by giving me a background in all things communication.” She believes that each of the MAPC core courses will provide critical background skills for a career in the business world.
Carly Finseth
Portland, OR
Specialization: Digital Publishing and Technical Writing/Editing
Carly has a BS in Liberal Studies from Oregon State University, where - among other things - she studied English, Writing, Communication, and Women's Studies. Having worked for the past several years in freelance writing, editing, and web design, Carly chose the MAPC program because it offered an advanced degree that effectively combined all three of her interests and gave her an opportunity to explore them all in an academic context. Carly plans to use her time at the MAPC program to delve into previously uncharted waters, such as audio/video editing, usability testing, serious games, teaching, and rhetorical studies. She's hoping to use her MAPC degree not only to further her freelance work, but also perhaps as a launching pad for entrance into a Ph.D. program specializing in digital media and communication. Carly is also the Director of Public Relations for the STC student chapter.
Caroline Garmon
Powder Springs, GA
Specialization: Digital Publishing
Caroline Garmon is a first-year MAPC student. She graduated from Clemson University in May 2009 with a BA in English and a minor in History. Caroline’s specialization is digital publishing, and she looks forward to learning more about web development and graphic design. She completed two internships in the communication field during her undergraduate years. For three summers, she interned at MicroBilt Corporation in Kennesaw, Georgia and concentrated on SEO writing. During her junior year, Caroline completed an internship in sports journalism at The Seneca Daily Journal/Messenger where she covered sporting events at the high school and college level.
Michael Hovan
San Antonio, TX
Specialization: Corporate Communication with an emphasis on User-Centered Design
Hovan received a BA in Humanities at Florida State University and also earned a Certificate in World Music from FSU's School of Music. Hovan chose the MAPC program because of the great flexibility and reputation of the program. He appreciates the knowledge and experience that the faculty at Clemson possesses. “The faculty are particularly encouraging, and very willing to take time to help coach their students,” Hovan says. He believes this program will enable him to understand and improve current business communication models as well as gain working knowledge about user-centered design. In the future he hopes to work in business consulting.
Rita Howard
Cumming, GA
Specialization: International and Non-Profit Public Relations
Rita joins the MAPC program having received a BA in Public Relations & French with a minor in Business Communications from Georgia College & State University. With past experience working with non-profits and public relations, Rita chose the MAPC program because it would allow her to study communications and public relations for international non-profits. With the MAPC’s ability to specialize, Rita hopes to tailor her classes to the global marketplace, while learning about non-profits, medical writing, and technical communication. The MAPC program has all of the key things that make up what I want to do in my career.” Rita is especially looking forward to her global communication and technical writing classes, which will help her learn the skills needed to pursue her career goals. Having researched many graduate programs in mass communications, Rita specifically chose the MAPC program due to its courses in technical writing, which she realized were not part of the curriculum at many schools.
Claiborne Linvill
Dallas, TX and Clemson, SC
Specializations: Teaching and Corporate Communication
After graduating with a BA in Communication from Wake Forest University, Claiborne worked for several years in sales and marketing in the Washington, DC area. She then moved to Clemson and worked in public relations, started a copywriting and marketing communications company, and began taking a few classes in the MAPC program. She joined the program fulltime in January 2010 after realizing she wanted to pursue a career teaching business writing and communication skills. She chose the MAPC degree because it will expand her knowledge of technical writing while preparing her to teach in English, communication or business programs.
Janet Miller
Naperville, IL
Specialization: Teaching
After 20 years of working in corporate communication, Janet decided to return to school in order to "reinvent" herself. Stepping out from her office desk in order to continue her career in front of many desks, Janet joined the MAPC program to pursue teaching, especially in the field of college student writing. Janet earned a BA in Journalism/Public Relations and a minor in Art from Northern Illinois University. She also earned a certificate in Not-for-Profit, Voluntary Sector and Arts Management from York University, Toronto. Regarding the MAPC program, Janet says she feels "both humbled and thrilled with my experience so far. I am looking forward to taking further advantage of the brilliance that surrounds me, both professors and classmates."
Caroline Moore
Hartwell, GA
Specialization: Teaching
Caroline is a first-year MAPC student. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Furman University in Greenville, SC. While Caroline is an assistant in the Advanced Writing Program and the Studio for Student Communication, she also works as a behavior therapist for children with autism. Caroline chose to pursue a degree with the MAPC program as it gives her the creative and theory skills to connect people to media and information through responsible rhetoric. Caroline plans to pursue a concentration in teaching and would like to work in a creative media firm before moving on to teach. She studied at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland and her ultimate goal is to research, write, and produce a documentary about the Scottish influence on the Southern Appalachians for PBS or BBC Scotland.
Hem Sharma Paudel
Chitwan, Nepal
Specialization: Teaching and Global Communication
Hem comes to Clemson from Nepal, having received a M.A. in English from Tribuhuvan University. Before moving to the United States, Hem lectured for over six years at a number of colleges in Nepal. Upon completing his degree, Hem hopes to teach at the university level or work in the technical writing field. The MAPC program was a perfect fit for Hem as its specialized courses and technology emphasis provided him with a wide range of opportunities to meet his own career goals. Through the teaching specialization, Hem is learning about “incorporating technology and modern pedagogical approaches in teaching” and he feels this approach will build a strong foundation for his upcoming career pursuits. Hem looks forward to obtaining a teaching assistantship next year, allowing him to practice what he has learned about teaching college students while he is still in school.
Helena Peace
Atlanta, GA
Specializations: Technical Writing and Digital Publishing
Helena graduated with a B.A. in English Literature, but was looking for a technical degree that would give her “real world” experience. She found that element in the MAPC program here at Clemson. As part of her undergraduate degree, Helena worked as an editorial assistant on a literary journal. She discovered her love of editing. She has always known that academe would be her eventual profession, but as a professor she wanted to be able to offer her students insight the technical world. The technical writing specialization that Clemson offers was a huge draw for her. Clemson was the ideal place to continue her academic career because she can tailor her degree to fit all of her passions of teaching, technical writing and digital publishing.
Katy Ross
Dallas, TX
Specialization: Corporate Communication and Digital Publishing
Katy Ross joined the MAPC program having received a BA in French and International Trade from Clemson University. Katy currently works as a travel writer for a solutions company in Greenville, SC. Since college graduation, she has worked as an import broker and has done freelance web design and graphic work. In order to gain more knowledge on the use of the online media and publishing, Katy wanted to return to school in order to study digital publishing and corporate communication.
Glen Southergill
Glastonbury, CT
Specialization: Digital Publishing and Teaching
Glen comes to the MAPC program from Arizona having received a BS in Psychology from the University of Arizona and a MBA from the University of Phoenix. Glen worked before returning to school for the MAPC degree. Most recently, he held an Associate Faculty position at the University of Phoenix. As he was researching multiple graduate programs across the country, Glen found he particularly liked the MAPC program due to its strong grounding in rhetoric and composition within the professional context. Also catching Glen’s attention was the opportunity to customize the MAPC program to coincide with his career goals, which ultimately conclude with obtaining his Ph.D. He is hoping to specialize in writing across the curriculum, the rhetoric of American Film and History, and organizational communications within public relations, conflict management, and human capital development. These multi-faceted career goals align with the MAPC program because he feels that “the MAPC program provides a strong foundation in rhetorical theory, professional/organizational communications, and the flexibility to study teaching as an area of specialization.”
Lara Tellis
Charleston, WV
Specialization: Technical Writing and Editing
Lara graduated from the College of Wooster in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French. She spent a year working as the box office manager for the Ohio Light Opera, a theater company affiliated with her alma mater. Lara chose the Clemson MAPC program because of the broad range of career opportunities for which it can prepare her. She also appreciates the opportunity it gave her to learn about the practical aspects of website and desktop publishing. Her thesis, an analysis of the revision histories of three articles in Wikipedia, combines her interests in editing and online communication. After graduating in May 2010, Lara hopes to find a job in which she can use her technical writing and editing skills.
Beth Wilkerson
Laurens, SC
Specialization: Teaching and Technical Editing
Beth graduated from USC Upstate with a major in Communications (emphasis in Print Journalism) and a minor in Spanish. During college, Beth worked briefly as an advertisement assistant for a local paper, worked three years in the University Writing Center at USC Upstate, and held internships at the The National Beta Club Headquarters and the College of Arts and Humanities at USC Upstate. After graduation, Beth worked for a mental health clinic for a year where she processed patient assistance applications for uninsured clients to ensure they received proper care. As an MAPC student, Beth is "trying it all" as her interests range from teaching composition to techincal editing. The program has allowed her to pursue multiple interests while here at Clemson.
Stephanie Williams Tarbet
Waynesville, NC
Specialization: Corporate Communication
Having graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in Education in 2004, Stephanie has worked within corporate communications, public relations and education before beginning the MAPC program. With interests in pursuing a career in corporate communications and public relations, Stephanie was looking for a hands-on program that would provide her with experience prior to graduation. She chose the MAPC program due to its corporate communications specialization as well as its focus on client-based projects. Stephanie says that “many of my courses involve these client-based projects which replicate the ‘real-world’ scenarios I will face upon entering the workplace.” After she finishes her coursework, Stephanie is planning to undertake a project involving corporate communications to complete her degree requirements.
Dustin WilsonKetchikan, AKSpecialization: Technical Writing and Editing
Dustin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric and Public Address from Bob Jones University in 2006. Having worked in banking and sales related fields before starting the MAPC program, Dustin choose the program based on its applied theory approach and location in the Upstate of South Carolina. Dustin is interested in pursuing either a PhD so that he can teach or a career in a technical communication field. He believes that the “MAPC applied theory approach will help me reach my goals” of becoming a professional communicator.
Heather Witmer
Watsonville, CA
Specialization: Corporate Communication
Heather graduated from Bob Jones University with a BA in Rhetoric and Public Address and a minor in Business Administration in May 2006. After graduation, she worked at Carolina First as the Loan Document Prep Department Leader and then as a mortgage pre-closer and closer at First National Bank of the South. Heather decided on the MAPC degree based on her desire to become proficient in professional writing and technology within the field of corporate communication. She is especially interested in the work of Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research, as she finds their work fascinating.
Jonathan Zeller
Bellingham, WA
Specializations: Literacy Studies and Rhetoric/Composition
Jonathan received his BA in English Literature from Western Washington University in 2008. Originally a double major in Studio Art and Advertising at the University of Idaho, Jonathan grew interested in his literature electives and the rhetorical negotiations of creative expression in culture. Jonathan's "literary" research at Western Washington focused primarily on cultural value constructions across cinematics and pedagogy. With his ongoing ambition for doctoral study, Jonathan views the MAPC as "a valuable step in becoming a well-rounded academic." He seeks to further cultivate his interests in multimodal and pop-culture literacy, while pursuing opportunities with Clemson's MAPC and RCID programs. Jonathan is also the current President of the STC student chapter.
Jingwen Zhang graduated from Zhejiang University in China in July 2009 with a B.A. in Journalism. She is currently a first-year MAPC student. She worked for the student website (QSC) of Zhejiang University as a journalist and editor during her spare time in college. Meanwhile, she worked for Google China as a student ambassador devising and executing campus campaigns concerned with new network tools, programming competitions and Google internships, etc. Surrounded with so many friends as computer and Internet experts, she wants to be more technical and keep up with the technology innovations, which will enhance her research and work in the communication field. Her research interests include health communication and intercultural communication, specifically how to utilize technology advances to solve empirical problems in the globalization context. She plans to work for international NGOs focusing on health promotion or children's care as a communication expert.
Jingwen "Sally" Zhang
Xi’an, China
Specailizations: Health Communication and Intercultural Communication
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