As Associate Dean for Academic Programs at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University-New Brunswick,  Julie Traxler’s career path and success provides an excellent example of the many ways Journalism and Media Studies majors can apply their knowledge, training, and experience to a variety of esteemed and fulfilling careers.

Dean Traxler graduated from SC&I in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism and Media Studies. She then earned two more degrees from Rutgers; a master’s degree in English in 1995, and an Ed.D. in Education, Social and Philosophical Foundations in 2009.

She has spent the last 30 years working for the university, spending most of her career in the School of Arts and Sciences.

I was admitted to a number of really good journalism schools across the country, but I fell in love with Rutgers and particularly with the journalism department. It was a relatively small department and very hands-on, and I got to know the faculty quickly. The opportunities were there from day one.

As associate dean in the SEBS Office of Academic Programs, Traxler leads a team of undergraduate student advisors, and she also personally advises SEBS students from the moment they are recruited until they graduate. She said she and her team help students work through decisions such as declaring a major, choosing classes, identifying appropriate internships based on their goals, and much more.

According to the SEBS website, “Dean Traxler is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Academic Services component of the Office of Academic Programs. This encompasses advising, registration, admissions, recruitment, scholastic standing, degree certification/graduation and all areas related to academic policies, procedures and programs.”

SC&I spoke with Dean Traxler to discover the reasons she majored in Journalism and Media Studies, how her education and experiences at SC&I prepared her for a successful career, her advice for current and prospective JMS majors, and more.

SC&I: What were some of the reasons you decided to major in JMS? Did you arrive at Rutgers intending to major in journalism?

JT: JMS was my choice of major when I came to college, and I looked at schools that had strong journalism programs, but SC&I was very much on my radar. I was admitted to a number of really good journalism schools across the country, but I fell in love with Rutgers and particularly with the journalism department. It was a relatively small department and very hands-on, and I got to know the faculty quickly. The opportunities were there from day one. Back then, there were a lot of good journalism schools where, if you played your cards right and you worked in the classroom for a couple of years, then you could move on to writing or broadcasting, so students didn’t have access to those courses and experiences right away. That is not the case at Rutgers, where from the beginning of the journalism program students are given opportunities to write copy and tape, and film, and gain any experiences they seek.

SC&I: How did you utilize your JMS degree to become Associate Dean? Did you know early on that this career was what you wanted?

JT: I didn’t know early on - it took me a while to figure out in college that this kind of career path was an option. I interned in the Dean’s office my senior year, while I was also interning at a business magazine. Both were really interesting because I love to write, and I love crafting writing and thinking about a story. But I started realizing there were certain parts of journalism that didn’t fit for me. For example, I’m not the kind of person who would stand on the courthouse steps yelling questions at someone ⎯ it’s not in my introverted soul. But while interning with the Dean’s office, I realized people can talk with students and help them out with where they’re going and how to get there, and how to make good choices. It was nice for me that the two internships were happening at the same time right as I was a senior and I was thinking about the rest of my life. I will always credit the JMS major for my excellent writing skills. I’m confident in my writing, I can tell a story in a way that’s effective, and I do a lot of that in my work ⎯ I write for the website, I write to faculty, I write to alumni, and I need those skills to be able to present an argument.

Get as much exposure to different professional experiences as you can, either through a formal internship, or just by speaking to a variety of people about what they do. I love it when a student says to me, “You seem to love what you do ⎯ tell me about it!”

SC&I: Were there any JMS faculty members or classes that have specifically impacted you so far during your career?

JT: I love the JMS faculty. They’re always immediately invested in your success. Professor Emerita of Journalism and Media Studies Barbara Reed taught Magazine Writing when I was there, and she went out of her way to ensure her students’ writing was amazingly strong. She was also great at making us think about how to make our writing good enough to be out in the world. She wanted us to be prepared and successful. I also have to mention the late Roger Cohen, who was the chair of the department at the time. He was such a wonderful person and such a good advocate for students.

SC&I: Do you have advice for JMS students who don’t know what career path they want to follow?

JT: Get as much exposure to different professional experiences as you can, either through a formal internship, or just by speaking to a variety of people about what they do. I love it when a student says to me, 'You seem to love what you do ⎯ tell me about it!' Asking people about their career choices can be very helpful when you are trying out different career options. It’s really nice to feel like you can cast out a wide net by asking lots of questions and then start to play around with what you really want.

SC&I: Did you have any other internships (in addition to the ones you mentioned) or get involved in other ways at Rutgers?

JT: I was vice president of my senior class and I was an RA on campus, which helped me fund my graduate education. When I was working for residence life, I offered to do some advising  ⎯ which I had done during my time interning in the Dean’s office ⎯  and it grew into a career.

I always say to my students, 'You can’t always know what’s going to be out there, so prepare the best you can so you’re open to those opportunities when you suddenly run into them.' Back then I didn’t know people who do the work I currently do, but now I love my career, and I especially love working with students.

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies Department at the School of Communication and Information on the website. 

Photo: Courtesy of Julie Traxler JMS‘91