MSCM Alumni Overview
Windy M. Caviness
GCSU Class of 2002
By Lauren Alyssa Boyd
Windy Caviness graduated from Georgia College & State University in May 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication. She concentrated her studies in public relations.
For five years, Windy has worked as the director of event marketing and sales for Feld Entertainment, Inc. in Duluth, GA. There are many aspects about her work that she enjoys, including traveling and interacting with people from around the world.
"I never have the same day twice," Windy said. "I get to interact with clowns, elephants, tiger trainers, media representatives, ringmasters, on-air anchors, and radio DJs. The best part is seeing a child's face in the crowd when they see an elephant or Mickey Mouse for the first time."
Windy has excellent memories of her college experience and the Mass Communication program. While at GCSU she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, studied abroad in Costa Rica, served as the weather girl for the campus TV station, wrote for "The Colonnade," and interned with Jocks and Jills Sports Grill in Atlanta.
"I think the Mass Communication program gave me some great tools to get me going in this industry," said Windy. "But a lot I have had to learn and pick up as I go."
After graduating from GCSU, Windy worked with a Milledgeville, GA newspaper for six months selling ads which led her to meet the Marketing director at the Macon Centreplex. Windy was then hired as the Macon Centreplex PR Specialist where she worked for two years until she joined the Feld Entertainment team.
When asked what advice she would give to those pursuing a career in public relations, Windy said "it isn't an easy field to get into and the pay might not be what you think it should be at the time, but if you work hard you will get to where you want to be."
Samuel Howe
GCSU Class of 2005
By Lauren Alyssa Boyd
Georgia College & State University alumnus Samuel Howe has used his education and degree to propel himself into a successful broadcast production career. Samuel is a 2005 GCSU graduate who received a Bachelor of Arts Degree is Mass Communication with a concentration in Broadcast and a minor in Rhetoric.
Samuel is currently employed as an associate producer on "Anderson Cooper 360" which is CNN's top rated show.
"I like my job because it's challenging, it's exciting and I get to work with some of the best and brightest minds in journalism," said Samuel. "CNN is the world-wide leader in news. The people I work with are literally the very best the industry has to offer, and I learn something new from them every day."
During his tenure at GCSU, Samuel was actively involved in the television news production crew as he wrote for, reported for, hosted and produced MBC News and Gridiron Glory. He also hosted a radio show every Wednesday evening with one of his closest friends. Samuel said they may have had a little too much fun with their show as they could have done a little more learning and a little less Arnold Schwarzenegger prank-calling. Along with these experiences, Samuel spent two summers studying abroad in Belize and Costa Rica, respectively. He said feels all students should take advantage of study abroad programs as it is a life-changing experience.
When the time came to do his internship, Samuel was one of 30 students selected from a group of 1,200 applicants to participate in the International Radio and Television Society's 2004 fellowship program. Samuel was placed with WCBS2 News in New York City and spent three months interning there and living in the NYU dorms in New York's East Village.
"It was an amazing and eye-opening summer," Samuel said of his internship experience. "It really helped pave the way for my entrance into a career at CNN."
Samuel's first job after graduating from GCSU was as a video journalist for CNN. From there he was promoted to the position of media coordinator, then to media producer, and finally to the associate producer position he holds now. Samuel has even had the honor of receiving the Peabody Award for his work during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Some of his other memorable career experiences are meeting many interesting people, his favorite being Andre 3000 of OutKast fame, and working through the historic 2008 Presidential Election.
Samuel said that he would not be in the position he is today without the benefit of his education and experiences at GCSU. He said that the Mass Communication program at GCSU is "top-notch" and offers the perfect balance of technology, hands-on experience and one-on-one time with professors.
"My advice to anyone pursuing a career in television news is to persevere, make good connections and make sure you get into a job you love," Samuel said. "Make sure you really love journalism before you take the dive. It can be a jaded and thankless industry at times, and at others it can be everything you dreamed it to be. Take the good with the bad, work hard, and take the time to step back enjoy your success."
Megan Freshley
GCSU Class of 2007
By Lauren Alyssa Boyd
Georgia College & State University alumni Megan Freshley graduated in the spring of 2007. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication and concentrated her studies in advertising. After graduating, Megan moved to Charleston, S.C. and went to work at AbundaTrade.com.
Megan was an active college student while at GCSU. She was a member of Alpha Delta Sigma, Lambda Pi Eta, the Marketing Club, Phi Kappa Phi, the WGUR 88.9 FM advertising and PR team, and attended the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference. She also worked as an intern for the "Charleston Magazine" Art Department where she had the opportunity to hone her technical design skills and take part in the first ever Charleston Fashion Week. However, Megan said that the highlight of her college experience was studying abroad in Paris, France. She recommends that everyone take advantage of the study abroad program, no matter where they want to travel, calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
Following graduation, Megan got the position of Web & Marketing Designer with AbundaTrade.com, a national website where consumers can trade in their used CDs, DVDs, and books for new iPods and other devices. She has now worked there for two years.
In her position at AbundaTrade.com, Megan works directly with the owner and managers of the company developing all of the design and creative materials. She said she enjoys the freedom she has on the job and the encouragement of her superiors. They push her to be resourceful and self-taught when she encounters areas she is unfamiliar with, and as a result, she has learned a lot and developed her skill level and range.
"I get to work with top professionals in the area whom we outsource for certain projects," Megan said. "Right now, we're working with the prestigious Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and I get free tickets to every show!"
Megan said that there are many things she learned at GCSU as part of the Mass Communication Program that have helped her achieve the career she has today. These include design programs such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Flash, but most importantly how to market herself.
"Strive to be multi-faceted and enthusiastic about learning more," Megan said when asked what advice she has for those chasing a career in the field. "My bosses love it that I'm willing to take on whatever challenge they throw at me, and that I've acquired experience in the process that will be very handy in the future!"
Josh Fulmer
GCSU Class of 2007
By Lauren Alyssa Boyd
Since graduating from Georgia College & State University in 2007, Josh Fulmer has launched himself into a successful career as a freelance journalist in New York City. Josh does a lot of work for "Men's Journal" magazine as both a writer and researcher.
"I love writing and outdoor activities, so I can't think of a better job than writing about adventure activities, travel and gear," said Josh. "To make a career out of things that you enjoy is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy being a freelancer because I am able to work on projects that I find interesting with a schedule that works best for me."
Through his work, Josh is given the opportunity to take advantage of many hands-on activities. His favorite tasks have included reviewing exclusive bicycles (and trying them out), interviewing outdoor athletes and covering a snowboarding competition in Union Square for his first assignment.
"It would be an understatement to say that it doesn't feel much like work. It's incredible to be doing something that you love and realize that you're at the office," Josh said. "I guess that's always been my objective--- to meld work and play into some kind of ideal lifestyle."
During his time at GCSU, Josh served as a writer and editor for "The Colonnade", a course facilitator for the Outdoor Education Center, and was also part of Venture Out and CATS. His favorite parts of the Mass Communication program include the work he did for "The Colonnade" and Dr. Ginger Carter Miller's Introduction to Public Relations class, though he said he would never admit it.
Josh had the great opportunity to do two internships, one for his Outdoor Education degree, for which he interned with the GCSU Outdoor Education Center, and one for his Mass Communication degree. For this, Josh was chosen to intern with "National Geographic Adventure" magazine in New York, an opportunity he feels will probably prove to be the most critical of his career.
"It was pretty surreal to be standing in the middle of NYC with a press pass from National Geographic Adventure'," Josh said of his first internship assignment. "I remember laughing to myself and thinking man, I was in Milledgeville a month ago."
When asked what advice he would give to someone pursuing a career like his, Josh says it is difficult to decide exactly what to say because every magazine journalist has a different "how I got my job" story. What worked for Josh was differentiating himself. He did this by choosing to study Journalism and Outdoor Education so he would have a solid base to launch a career as an outdoor journalist.
"Find something you want to do, something that really motivates you," Josh recommended. "Think about where you want to end up, and work backwards from that. Take the logical next steps and take full advantage of opportunities that come your way."