Posted February 23, 2018
Top photo: Dr. Tom Reichert, Ricky Tafolla, Michaela Baker, Grace Steptoe, Dr. Tara Mortensen, Andrew Dunn, Dr. Elise Lewis and Tye Price.
While some might see spring break as a chance to kick back and relax, six students and two faculty from the College of Information and Communications are using it as an opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in media and technology.
The CIC, along with communications firm Chernoff Newman, are sponsoring the team’s trip to the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, part of a massive, 10-day conglomeration of festivals and conferences in Austin, Texas. There, students will network with industry professionals and learn about emerging technology, film and interactive media.
“It’s the perfect experience for our college’s students and faculty because so much of what they’ll learn is right there at the intersection of information and communications,” says Dr. Tom Reichert, dean of the CIC. “The hope is that they’ll come back from the trip with a unique perspective on what’s next in their industries. It’s yet another way we’re preparing our graduates to be thinkers and innovators."
During the conference (March 9-13), students will report back to the CIC in real-time to share what’s new and what’s next with those following along on the college’s social media channels. They will also give a public presentation about their experience in late March.
Follow along on the college’s social media channels: @UofSC_CIC on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook.com/uofsccic. The students are also planning a takeover of the university’s Snapchat account on March 11: UofSCOfficial.
Junior, Visual Communications
Irmo, South Carolina
Dream job after graduation?
Creative director at a beauty corporation
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
I’m looking forward to learning about what’s next in the world of technology, design
and journalism. SWSW is about inspiring creatives in all fields. I can’t wait to attend
sessions, network and learn.
Senior, Information Science
Cayce, South Carolina
Dream job after graduation?
Systems administrator
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
I am most looking forward to all the coding topics. I don’t have much coding experience,
however I am interested in learning more about it.
Senior, Information Science
Plainsboro, New Jersey
Dream job after graduation?
Web developer
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
I most look forward to hearing successful professionals in my field talk about how
they came to be successful.
Junior, Information science
Charleston, South Carolina
Dream job after graduation?
Working for Kode With Klossy teaching young girls how to code.
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
Hearing Karlie Kloss and Melinda Gates speak!
Senior, Visual communications
Irmo, South Carolina
Dream job after graduation?
Creative director of a beauty/makeup brand.
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
Learning new things from the best professionals in the country and eating tacos in
downtown Austin!
Senior, Visual communications
Mexico
Dream job after graduation?
Ideally, I would love to work either editing footage for a network or in a writer’s
room.
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
I’m looking forward to listening to the speakers and networking with people working
in my field of interest.
Assistant Professor
School of Library and Information Science
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
I am excited to see what comes out of having so many people from diverse areas come
together to share ideas. You have educators, gamers, technologists, just to name a
few. Good things are bound to come from this. I am also excited to see the students
grow and learn in this environment. We can’t really recreate this in a classroom,
so it will be fun to see them engage.
Assistant Professor
School of Journalism and Mass Communications
What you’re looking forward to most about SXSW?
I’m most excited about learning innovative methods in design and web design and then
sharing them with my students!