I currently work as the Director of Community Engagement and Communications at Downtown Roanoke Incorporated (DRI), but my passion for communication began well before joining DRI. It took me a few semesters to declare my major, though I’m not sure why my path wasn’t clear from the jump. In undergrad, I was constantly photographing the world around me, taking media-based electives, and telling my advisor that I loved communicating. Once I took the leap of faith and declared my major in media studies with a concentration in production, I never looked back. My degree led me to work behind the scenes in television news for two years before heading back to school. At NC State, I focused on public relations and nonprofits while earning my Master’s of Communication. My background laid the foundation for my current career path.