Perspectives session serve as a mechanism to build bridges between our current undergraduates in the Department of Communication and your young alumni who have blazed new trails in the professional world and are seeing success in their early- to mid-career endeavors. We invite all current students, faculty, and staff to attend our virtual sessions. If you would like to be involved or learn more, please contact communication@clemson.edu.
Kaila Burns-Heffner
Kaila Burns-Heffner earned her BA in Sports Communication with an Entrepreneurship minor from Clemson University in 2017. She currently serves as a Content Associate at ESPN and is responsible for all content that is edited before the games for college baseball and football that are presented during the broadcast.
Her journey towards her current position at ESPN began when she chose to attend Clemson University. Through the Department of Communication, Kaila was appointed to the Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council as a sports communication representative and served as a department ambassador. Through these experience and her numerous internships with organizations that include: The Clemson Insider, Sports Illustrated, Campus Rush and WSPA-TV, she honed the skills and gained the experience needed to secure an internship at ESPN Magazine.
ESPN.com
Since then, she has propelled herself into the content associate position she holds today. Kaila attributes her success in the sports industry to concerted planning, intentional networking and even failing (and persistence).
Watch the video below for a full recap of Kaila’s journey and the advice she has for Clemson Communication students and recent graduates.
Perspectives session serve as a mechanism to build bridges between our current undergraduates in the Department of Communication and your young alumni who have blazed new trails in the professional world and are seeing success in their early- to mid-career endeavors. We invite all current students, faculty, and staff to attend our virtual sessions. If you would like to be involved or learn more, please contact communication@clemson.edu.
John-Oliver Valentin
John-Oliver Valentin is a 2016 graduate from Sacramento, California. After finding a home in Clemson, he moved to New York City to live out his dream of residing in the city and working in the entertainment industry where he currently serves as a booker for the Tamron Hall Show. Valentin began his Clemson career as a marketing student who was unsure what career path he would take until he learned about entertainment marketing. Learning about this new sector of marketing opened Valentin’s eyes to the idea that one could have a career, earn money, and have fun on the job.
The key turning point for Valentin in his undergraduate career occurred during his broadcast journalism class with Wanda Johnson. Johnson told him “if you do not do something in this industry it will be a waste of talent.” From that point on, Valentin worked with various professors, notably Eddie Smith and Dr. Lori Pindar, and local commentators to put himself in the best situation to break into the industry.
Valentin’s first internship was with the WFBC radio Hawk and Tom Morning Show. Instead of living the life of a typical college student with time spent between the library and downtown, Valentin spent all of his free time working at WFBC. His dedication to the radio show was worth it to Valentin because he was able to make connections to industry professionals and was later promoted to promotion director at WFBC..
https://tamronhallshow.com
Valentin continued to network and used his connections and past experiences to earn a summer internship at US Weekly in New York City the summer before his senior year. After returning to Clemson, Valentin got in contact with Debra Norville, a friend of Eddie Smith and the host of Inside Edition. After speaking with her, he was offered an internship in January of 2016 and promptly left Clemson to finish out his semester in New York. By May of that year, Valentin became the first intern to be offered a full-time booker position. Later, a former coworker reached out to Valentin to offer him booker position for the Tamron Hall Show that he currently holds today.
Valentin stressed that to be successful in the entertainment industry one needs a passion for the business because it will lead them to work harder. He also suggests that students use this time to figure out their work style and how to adapt to best fit to those at the organization they are working for and hope to work for—because when the work styles are compatible, you become invaluable. Further, Valentin stresses that there is no direct path and “if you can’t get through the front door, throw a rock and take a new path.” Nevertheless, a crucial step that is necessary in all paths is building a network. To do so, Valentin suggests simply walking up to someone, get their card and say, “let’s keep in touch.”. He also suggests reaching out to professionals in the business one is interested in and ask them what they like about it and then what positions are available at the company.
John-Oliver created a way for himself in the entertainment world through tenacity, listening and believing in himself the way his professors, advisors, and employers did, and despite being a minor in Communication, using all his resources to build a career for himself while a student. For current and prospective students, we encourage you to work with your advisor to share your interests and gain insights that will help you also find a way to make your dreams a reality.
Perspectives session serve as a mechanism to build bridges between our current undergraduates in the Department of Communication and your young alumni who have blazed new trails in the professional world and are seeing success in their early- to mid-career endeavors. We invite all current students, faculty, and staff to attend our virtual sessions. If you would like to be involved or learn more, please contact communication@clemson.edu.
Madison Albin
Madison Albin earned her Communication BA, with a minor in Entrepreneurship in December 2019 and is currently awaiting the start of her eight week training program to become an Assistant Buyer with Macy’s Corporate.
Albin new at an early age that she wanted to work in fashion in New York City. Given her goal, Albin did all within her power to gain a competitive edge over other candidates. To start, in high school and early on in her college career, Albin worked primarily in retail. She then added to her hands-on knowledge by taking classes at LIM College of Fashion in New York city over the summer while she was a Clemson student.
Albin was able to use these experiences, along with professional lessons learned from a mentor she built a relationship with while at Clemson, to acquire an internship with Macy’s Corporate in New York City. Albin worked in the buying and selling department with Free People, Sanctuary and Lucky Brand Jeans. Here, she used previous sales and trend forecasts to make a plan for what to buy. She then implemented the plan by going to the markets and picking out styles similar to the best sellers from the previous year. During this internship, Albin made sure to ask an abundance of questions and constantly request feedback. This allowed her to become desirable member of her internship class as well as led her to build an intimate relationship with her mentor at Macy’s and her entire team.
At the conclusion of her summer internship, Albin was offered the full-time position as an Assistant Buyer. This position was set to start in June of 2020 but with the majority of retail sales coming from in-store and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic–Macy’s had to furlough employees which included her. Albin eagerly awaits the commencement of her job, but has made use of her time by remaining in in contact with her college recruiter housed in Macy’s HR department at least once a week.
Albin worked hard and built many relationships to set herself up for her dream job and advises graduating seniors to do the same thing by always asking for feedback. Albin attributes her success to her constant desire to improve and learn more. During this time of uncertainty, Albin advises young alumni to be proactive and constantly apply for jobs and connect with new people. She also suggests that one stays relevant by improving skillsets such as Adobe and Microsoft and earning certifications that are free and online.
Madison is an example of a young professional who utilized tenets of the communication program and her own tenacity and desire to work in the world of fashion to carve a space for her success. For current and prospective students, we encourage you to work with your advisor to share your interests and gain insights that will help you also find a way to make your dreams a reality.
Millennials (age 24 -39), and the newest group of voters, the post-millennial generation (age 18 – 23) now make up 31% of the electoral, meaning they should be equally as large of a political force as Baby Boomers (age 56 -74). Young American’s have the opportunity to use their civic duty to influence the outcome of the election in their favor, but will they?
According to Pew Research Center, about 46 percent of millennials voted in the last presidential election. If history were to repeat itself, the potential for millennials and post millennials to change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will be diminished if similar voter turnout numbers are posted. Thus, it is important for young Americans to not only express their political opinions, but also take to the polls and VOTE. In the words of the cast of the hit musical Hamilton, “text less. Vote more. Show everyone what you’re against or what you’re for.”
The RIGHT to Vote
If you are lucky enough to be a part of the group of citizens in the United States that is granted a say in this democratic system with the right to vote, you should not be taking it for granted. To establish the United States of America, colony members fought to be independent from England because of “taxation without representation,” meaning that British Parliament refused to grant colonists representatives in the government.
Women march through Manhattan, NY for voting rights in 1913.
In order to ensure that American citizens would always have the representation, the United States Constitution established the right for a limited group of citizens to vote (white males). Since then, women, people of color and other minority groups have fought against the patriarchy and systematic oppression for the evolution of the right to vote that now includes the more diverse, representative population of our country.
The right to vote is important to utilize because it is the duty of American citizens to elect candidates into office that represent the country, state, county, cities and their own best interests. In order to decide which candidates support said interests, researching the goals, policy plans and portfolio of each candidate is a necessary step. Research should include fact checking statements that candidates make as opposed to taking their word without further research. An easy way to fact check claims is to utilized credible sources that review claims and verify their accuracy—websites such as Politifact or Factcheck.org are examples of where you can find more information.
While we have our own beliefs and opinions, research and fact checking can help voters minimize the biases they may have about a candidate based on media or the opinions of those with whom they surround themselves. It can also maximize their ability to form their own fact-based knowledge and sentiments towards each candidate.
In order to stay informed, it is important to continue to research and be open to changing one’s opinion when gathering new information. It is also the responsibility of a politically educated person to correct their friends and family when they make an inaccurate statement to stop the spread of false information. The job may not be easy but voting has been a hard fought right for this county and in order for it to remain as such, these steps can assist in knowing and doing what is best for you as a voter.
How to Vote
Voting dates, processes, and registration vary from state to state. To learn about how to register to vote and how to vote in your state refer to The Campus Vote Project. Be sure to register to vote early, confirm your voting location, and ensure that you have a better understanding of not just the candidates, but other ballot items that impact your community. The Revolutionary War was not simply about the politics of separating from the British Empire, but also ideologically setting forth a new type of country where the voice of the people made an impact on leadership and decisionmaking.
The release of the horrific video of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers opened the eyes of many to the racial injustices in this country and around the world. Many began to realize that it was their job to work towards a fairer, accepting, and just world.
It is clear that those in the younger generations are becoming leaders of the important changes that are being made to today’s society. These emerging leaders are tackling long held social and racial discrepancies with an open mind and a unique combination of hope and determination that has captured the world’s attention.
In our Clemson community we have leaders who are prepared to educate, accept, and celebrate the differences they have with their classmates while empathizing, and advocating for real change. Following are changes occurring in Clemson due to the passion and determination of Clemson students.
A Band of Student Athletes Form a Group to Fight Against Racial Injustices
Following the outrage that came from the Black community and its supporters that forced the nation to pay attention to racial issues in this country, Student Athlete Development Assistant Directors Sable Lee and Anthony Hines created a “Tiger’s Unite” town hall zoom event for any student athlete to join to express their feelings and emotions. The two described this meeting as “a safe space for us to UNITE during this time.” (Sable Lee and Anthony Hines)
Anthony Hines, Mike Jones, Chrystal Childs, Cornell Powell and Darien Rencher at the Clemson Community Peaceful Demonstration
Clemson Student Athletes of all racial and ethnic backgrounds joined the meeting to express their feelings, listen, and learn. The meeting provided a space for Black student athletes and allies a sense of comfort and unity.
From there, a leadership council comprised of 1-2 student-athletes from each varsity team was formed and is led by President Crystal Childs (volleyball), Vice President Darien Rencher (football), Secretary Bridget Kane (rowing), and Treasurer Andrew Castano (xc & track). This group of 19 athletes has since been meeting as the club C.O.D.E (Commission on Diverse Empowerment) to plan how to best use our platform to diminish racial injustice through demonstrations, information, discussions, and the electoral system. One of the advisors, Sable Lee, explained “we have a great opportunity to continue a legacy started by many trailblazers to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion is always a part of our culture”.
Reclaim, Rename Movement
Reclaim, Rename Movement
In 2017, the Reclaim, Rename movement was started by Clemson Alumni. This movement is run by a group of Clemson students and is designed to help students of color feel more comfortable by creating a move inclusive campus community.
In 2019, Hannah Connely, a member of Reclaim, Rename, started a petition to change the name of the former Calhoun Honors College, which unfortunately did not get much traction. Clemson University is built on John C. Calhoun’s Fort Hill Plantation and the institution chose to change the name of the honors college to ‘Calhoun Honors College’ in 1982 to pay tribute to him. The issue with Calhoun is his legacy as an adamant defender of slavery, he was a white supremacist, and owned nearly 80 slaves on Fort Hill Plantation. The leaders of Reclaim, Renameemphasized the importance of the removal of John C. Calhoun’s name from the honors college stating, “to reject the inclusion of this name on the Calhoun Honors College is to renounce racist ideals and affirm the notion that Black lives are valued at Clemson University.”
In light of the renewed-nationwide desire for racial justice, members of the Reclaim, Rename Movement decided to recirculate the petition, which gained national support, including endorsements from professional football players DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson, and ultimately led Clemson Trustees to remove Calhoun’s name from the Honors College. Read the full story, including an interview with the creator of the 2020 petition, Roann Abdeladl, below.
The group continues to keep the movement going and is currently focusing on centering the voices of students of color. Roann Abdeladl explained that the group wants to give students of color a platform to be heard so that they can continue to use their voices
Now that Reclaim, Rename has earned national recognition, the members want to use their new found connections to continue supporting students of color. Recently, the group began donation campaign to collect donations for three organizations that support students of color: the Harvey B. Gantt Scholarship Endowment, the Honors College Opportunity Scholarship, and the Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center. Click here to donate
ReclaimandRename.com
Clemson Trustees approve Honors College name change following student petition
DeAndre Hopkins and Deshawn Watson via The Check Down
The national unrest and desire to act that brought the Black Lives Matter Movement back to the national stage lead Roann Abdeladl, a rising Junior, Health Science major at Clemson University and other members of the Reclaim, Rename movement to relaunch the petition to change the name of Clemson’s Calhoun Honors College.
While in the process of relaunching the new petition, NFL player (Houston Texans) and former Clemson star DeAndre Hopkins found the old petition and reached out to the group. Hopkins told the Reclaim, Rename group members that he had done research on how to get the name changed and wanted to support them in any way he could. When reflecting on Hopkin’s efforts to get the petition circulated, Roann Abdeladl, remarked, “It was cool to see other well-known figures share the petition including Deshaun Watson(Houston Texans and former Clemson football quarterback) and current Clemson football players. I didn’t expect it to take off so quickly or honestly expect the result.”
The results Abdeladl speaks of are the unanimous decision made by the Clemson Board of Trustees to approve the Honors College name change from “Calhoun Honor College” to “Clemson University Honors College,” Additionally, the board also made steps to address the renaming of the iconic clocktower, Tillman Hall.
Roann Abdeladl
The abundance of support by students from the administration for the name change gave Abdeladl hope for more changes to occur around campus. While name changes are a start, she also hopes for changes in heart from the student body to be more accepting and welcoming of students of color.
As a student of color at Clemson University, Abdeladl has had an abundance of “not so great, unkind experiences” because she is Muslim and wears a hijab. As a freshman hearing of the Clemson family, it was a shock to her what the Clemson climate was actually like for students of color. Since her initial shock of her freshman year, Abdeladl has done a lot of work with diversity and inclusion with the goal of changing Clemson’s climate so that in the future, students of color won’t have to experience what she did.
Clemson Trustees request authority to restore original name of Tillman Hall
In South Carolina, the Heritage Act requires that at least two-thirds of both the House and Senate approve any change to any monument. In 1946 Clemson’s “the Main Building” was renamed “Tillman Hall” after Benjamin Tillman, a former South Carolina Governor who oversaw the establishment of Clemson College, making it fall under the Heritage Act’s jurisdiction. Recently, through petitions, demonstrations and public statements, it is apparent that students are upset that Clemson has a building honoring Benjamin Tillman who has a legacy of hate. Tillman was a self-proclaimed white supremacist who opposed civil rights for Black Americans.
Clemson trustees listened and respectfully requested the South Carolina General Assembly make a one-time exception to the state’s Heritage Act and restore Tillman Hall to its original name of Old Main.
We want to recognize our May 2020 graduates and congratulate them on their achievement. Please watch our video tribute and learn a bit more about our seniors in the following article.
Highlight of Accomplishments
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences Awards:
Award for Professional Engagement – Sophie Robinson, Communication
This award is presented to a graduating senior for academic achievement, outstanding professional engagement and future professional promise with that discipline. Activities such as internships, co-ops, publication, professional memberships and active participation in professional meetings and conventions are the primary determinant of this award.
M.S. Award, Outstanding Teaching Assistant – Caitlin Anderson, Communication
This award recognizes a Master’s Degree candidate who has excelled in all areas of their Clemson graduate experience including academics, collegiality, research and departmental service. Above all, the awardee must demonstrate a genuine flare and passion for classroom teaching as reflected by faculty, peer and student evaluations.
Department of Communication Awards:
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sports Communication – Joseph Bober
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Communication – Katherine Kenney
Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award – Joey Fontana
Doreen Geddes Memorial Award for Excellence in Women and Communication – Kayla Craig
A Note From Leslie Hossfeld, Dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences:
“You have reached an incredible milestone, and it has been our honor to walk alongside you as you pursued this achievement. I know these last weeks have been an unusual way to finish your final year at Clemson, but know how proud we are of the way you have navigated this time with character and resilience.”
Interview with Communication Seniors
Rachel Mumau
Rachel Mumau, Communication (BA) ,Athletic Leadership minor:
Rachel Mumau is a 2020 graduate from Millstone Township, New Jersey. Rachel’s favorite memory while at Clemson is the Louisville football game her freshman year. The energy at this particular game was immense and reminded her of her recruiting visit to Clemson when she attended the Notre Dame football game. Feeling the energy she felt that day in Death Valley only affirmed for her that she had made the correct choice when selecting to attend this university.
While at Clemson, Rachel’s favorite professor was Dr. Angela Pratt. Dr. Pratt is extremely caring and made an effort to relate to Rachel, making Rachel feel like a friend, not just another student in class. Their relationship inspired Rachel to make the most of all of Dr. Pratt’s classes and opened her up to expanding her knowledge base in the world of sport. Rachel built a strong relationship with Professor Pratt and continues to keep in contact with her on social media.
Rachel is disappointed that she had to finish her classes online and away from her friends. During her time at Clemson, Rachel was able to develop a broad network of friendships that became her family at Clemson. Considering that Rachel built a second family while at Clemson, the hardest part of leaving Clemson abruptly was missing out on the anticipated send-off from the people she values in her life.
Currently, Rachel is working with kids and spending her time tutoring, nannying, lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons. In the future, she plans to work in a collegiate athletic department with student-athletes.
Brett Long
Brett Long, Communication (BA) ,Business Management minor:
Brett Long, a native of Southern California, made the brave decision two years ago to travel across the country to the small town of Clemson, South Carolina to pursue his undergraduate studies. Brett believes this decision was the best one he has made thus far because living here and being a student at Clemson University has shaped him into a man that he is proud of. While at Clemson, Brett’s favorite memories include attending sporting events, especially football games. The memories that stand out most are the past two National Championship games, specifically when Clemson beat Alabama in San Jose, CA.
Brett enjoyed all of his coursework and his favorite professor was management professors, David Peyton. Professor Peyton is known by the Clemson student body as someone who cares deeply about his students and their success. Additionally, he is a great lecturer and is able to explain things to his students like no other professor.
During his time at Clemson Brett built strong friendships which made the postponement of graduation frustrating since he was unable to say goodbye to the people and places he cares about. Despite these changes, Brett expressed “it is what it is” and used this to make the most of the situation. He is planning to move back to California and work in the sports media industry. Since he is moving so far away, Brett is going to miss his friends on the East Coast more than anything. He will also miss all of the football and baseball game days, but Clemson will forever be in his heart.
Caitlin Anderson
Caitlin Anderson, Communication, Technology and Society(MA)
Caitlin Anderson is a 2020 graduate of the from the Communication, Technology, and Society graduate program. During her time at Clemson, she notes that her favorite professor was her thesis advisor, Dr. James Gilmore. She was fortunate to take two classes with him and he brought to life complex topics in interesting and thought-provoking ways. Caitlin explained, “never did I think that I’d enjoy discussing complex theory so much! He is a kind and thoughtful individual as well, taking the time to work with students that both pushes them to think more critically while also emphasizing the positive qualities they possess. His feedback is a joy to receive!”
While at Clemson, her favorite memories involved the conversations with the members of her graduate cohort, which varied from silly debates to deep discussions. Specifically, she remembers the Communication department’s holiday party, the Fall party at Dr. Pratt’s home, football games, and birthday parties. Another highlight of her time in the master’s program was teaching. She loved getting to know her students as unique individuals through group activities and discussions in her lessons. Caitlin explained, “while I’ve taught nearly 300 students at Clemson, each one has left a permanent mark on me! Plus, I get to learn from my students as much as they can learn from me, which makes me a better teacher in the process”.
Caitlin will miss her cohort and professors the most, as she became very close to everyone in the Communication department. Luckily, she is returning to Clemson in the Fall to pursue her Ph.D. in Learning Sciences so she will be able to keep in touch with members of the Communication department. Additionally, Caitlin intends to keep teaching and researching with her GTA position in the College of Education. After earning her doctorate, Caitlin’s goal is to become a professor researching online learning, which she noted “is certainly relevant right now.”
When tasked with switching to online classes this semester, she struggled. Her courses are discussion-based seminars and she noted how the online synchronous style made it “difficult to get a ‘vibe’ for the flow of conversation.” Fortunately, she worked with fantastic colleagues and professors who were able to make it work and tackle deep concepts despite the distance. Caitlin also defended her thesis, virtually, which she described as “an unusual experience, but ultimately worked out!”
The best part about being a member of the Clemson family for Caitlin is the people. She explained that among “my professors, peers, and students, I’ve met some amazing folks that have added to my lived experiences in deep and meaningful ways.”
Thank you Class of 2020
Although the ending to your journey here at Clemson was one that was not expected, we thank you for all the time, effort, and love you have put into your journey at Clemson University. Your achievements and ability to navigate these times make your class that much more phenomenal! Your hard work and perseverance is noted and we look forward to celebrating your graduation as a Clemson community as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. Congratulations Class of 2020!!
