January 2025 - News Articles

“The MCM program helped me build on the skills and passions I discovered as an undergraduate, deepening my understanding of communication and media,” said Dylan Russo. “It became the foundation for my growth, both personally and professionally.”

The Vicious Cycle, a Rutgers campaign launched and staffed by SC&I faculty, staff, and student peer educators at the SC&I Center for Communication and Health Issues (CHI), was created to help reduce stigma surrounding substance use disorders at the university and help connect Rutgers students to vital recovery resources and harm reduction strategies on campus.

The SC&I faculty members in the Ph.D. program who had the greatest impact on him, Belvin said, include Betty Turock, Tefko Saracevic, Lea Stewart, and Carl Botan. He credits Lea Stewart for “helping me understand that what you said was not as important as what people heard you say and for being a great, caring person.”

“The media industry is always changing as new products/processes are being developed. Working in the industry means you always have to be open to these changes and ready to work with and grow with them,” Mucciariello said.

In a SC&I Communication class, the undergrads conducted an analysis of the streaming industry and proposed go-to-market communication strategies for WBD’s streaming platform, Max.

“I focus on kindness and communication to build positive relationships,” Lemkin said.

Benitez said she discovered her interest in journalism as a teenager, and then trained for it at Rutgers.