Emma Montgomery, a graduating senior Journalism major with minors in Creative Media Industries (CMI), Media Strategies, and Agricultural Communication from Artesia, New Mexico, has made her mark in countless ways in the College of Media & Communication. As she prepares to don her cap and gown, she is now equipped with the knowledge, skills, and memories she has gained.
From on campus jobs to leadership roles and networking opportunities, Montgomery has seized every opportunity to prepare herself for success.
“My biggest involvement has been in the Outdoor and Adventure Media classes that Dr. Foster predominantly leads,” said Montgomery. “I took Adventure Media in the Spring of 2023 and the summer of 2023, I studied abroad in Iceland with Dr. Peaslee and Dr. Foster— we studied media tourism and photography for about two and a half weeks. Being able to go with them and learn about the outdoors and Iceland's movie filming industry was a very cool experience for me.”
As she prepares to bid farewell to her alma mater, she is filled with optimism and determination to make a meaningful impact in her chosen field. With a bright future ahead, she looks forward to embracing new challenges, forging meaningful connections, and continuing her pursuit of excellence in the years to come.
“I definitely want to be an outdoor writer, photographer or producer in some sort of way,” said Montgomery. “My minor in CMI has allowed me to do a lot of visual storytelling that goes along with my writing pieces. I've always had a connection to the outdoors— I grew up on a ranch— but it was more of like a working class connection to the outdoors rather than an outdoor recreation type of connection. Whether it be a magazine writer or a photographer in a sense, I do enjoy connecting my love for the outdoors with my love for writing and storytelling.”
Now completing her undergraduate studies in CoMC, Montgomery finds herself filled with a deep sense of satisfaction and gratitude. What began as a leap of faith has evolved into a transformative journey filled with growth, discovery, and lifelong friendships. From the moment she set foot on campus, Montgomery was drawn to the vibrant community, world-class faculty and staff, and diverse opportunities for academic and personal development. With a sense of pride, she recognizes that her decision to enroll in the college was one of the best she ever made, laying the foundation for a future filled with endless possibilities.
“I think I would tell my younger self to stick it through because it is so worth it.
“I've been very nostalgic recently since my time here is coming to an end,” said Montgomery. “I think I would tell my younger self to stick it through because it is so worth it. I wasn't super confident in my decision at first and four years later, I'm more than confident in what the College of Media & Communication has done for me, how it's turned me into a young professional, and set me up for success.”
Since being accepted into the College of Media & Communication to her now upcoming graduation day, Montgomery's family has been her rock, providing encouragement, guidance, and unconditional love. Whether it was offering emotional support during challenging times, or celebrating her achievements and milestones, Montgomery's family has been her biggest cheerleader in the past four years.
“My parents and my whole entire family have been super supportive of me through this journey,” said Montgomery. “They may not resonate exactly with what I'm doing, but they have shown nothing but support. I know that they care and are proud of me, even with being first-gen— they understand how much of an accomplishment it is. They are always the first to read my stories when they are published and share them on Facebook.”
Along with the support of family back home, Montgomery accredits what she has learned from CoMC faculty to her success and holds them in high regard for the profound impact they have had on her academic and personal growth. She now looks back on her time in CoMC with an appreciation on the positive influence that professors have had on her life, knowing that their guidance will continue to inspire her long after she leaves the university.
“It's the things that we learn from people that they haven't necessarily taught us that stay with us,” said Montgomery. “Dr. Foster has taught me a lot about being behind the camera and how to be a productive photographer and videographer. But he's also taught me a lot just from a sense of mentorship and his leadership— it is absolutely undeniable. He's done so much for people, but he is the humblest person I know. The biggest lessons I've learned from him are not things he's stood in front of a class and lectured about— it's just what I've observed from him.”
Looking back on her experience in the College of Media & Communication, Montgomery
expresses a heartfelt appreciativeness for the friendships she has formed over the
years. While excited for the opportunities that lie ahead, she will undoubtedly miss
the camaraderie, laughter, and support of her college friends. As she looks toward
the future, Montgomery is grateful for the memories made and the lasting friendships
that will endure beyond graduation.
“One thing that I've learned is that the Journalism program is pretty small and there's not a lot of us,” said Montgomery. “We've had a ‘cohort' where we go from one class to the next together— there's about 20 of us in this small group. Being together in the classroom and knowing everyone very well on a personal level has made us uplift one another. We're eager to hear about the work we're doing, internships, and other opportunities— it's a tight-knit group that happened very seamlessly and I will miss each one of them.”