Alumni Success

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I started SCC as a home-schooled, dual-enrolled high schooler. SCC was a convenient and accessible institution that would enable me to become embedded in a college environment. With its small class sizes, variety of degree options, and sense of community, this would be the perfect place to begin my college experience

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I was actively involved in student life, from leading the campus newspaper to presiding over the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter (Psi Gamma). During these experiences, I enjoyed sharing stories of various campus community members, collaborating with colleagues in staging educational programming and feeling engaged in the evolution of our campus. I loved getting to know many faculty members and staff who supported my journey

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

The most significant memory during my time at SCC unfolded on the very last day when I delivered my student commencement speech during graduation. I was beyond thrilled (and anxious) to have the opportunity to be selected for this role, and it represented a "defining moment" for me, as I used that space to publicly share for the first time about how autism had shaped my life and academic journey. I finally felt comfortable being vulnerable about a part of me that I had long kept hidden and, more importantly, pride over the structural challenges I had battled to succeed in life. I was extremely touched to be met by a standing ovation and many individuals coming to me after the speech to discuss their connections to autism. This night remains perhaps one of the most important of my entire life

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and career?

On a personal note, many of the friends I made 12-15 years ago as an SCC student remain core individuals in my life; they were there for my doctoral graduation and will continue to support me as I embrace additional opportunities. Similarly, several of the faculty and staff have remained core connections of mine, people who I still consult for advice and share experiences. As for how SCC shaped my career direction, it was through interviewing various community members that I built my foundation of learning about academia and the people who belong to these educational institutions. Though I was pursuing a journalism degree at the time, as I wrapped up my Bachelor's at ASU, I realized that I sought to have a career where academia would be the centerpiece. Consequently, I ultimately attained my master's and doctorate in higher education, in which I conducted research about, among other topics, community college student transfer pathways. I also engage in scholarship around autism in higher education, for which most people in my space associate me. SCC continues to be a piece of my academic pride; most colleagues are aware that I went to the school with Artie the Artichoke as a mascot and see my associate degree hanging on my wall alongside my doctoral degree.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC. What role did that involvement play in your overall SCC experience?

I led two student organizations: the Green Club (focused on environmental issues) and the Psi Gamma chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Theta Kappa. I also worked across all levels of the student newspaper for over two years. I was actively engaged in the honors program and various student life efforts. These spaces allowed me to connect with many individuals and contribute to the campus community.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC.

Honors Program Scholarship

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC. Where did you start and where are you now? 

I pursued graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in its leading Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis department. There I took courses around issues in higher education and conducted numerous research projects around issues on community college transfer, LGBTQ+ campus climate, and autism and disability in higher education. During this time I also joined the leadership team of College Autism Network, a nonprofit organization centered on advocacy, research, and training in higher education. After receiving my doctorate in 2021, I served as a postdoctoral researcher at the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University and then as an Assistant Professor of Adult and Lifelong Learning at the University of Arkansas. In Fall 2024, I will make another institutional transition as I embark on a new chapter as an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of Pittsburgh. Career highlights include being named a K. Patricia Cross Future Leader from the American Association of Colleges & Universities and an ECMC Foundation Career and Technical Education Postsecondary Research Fellow. Most notably, reflecting my engagement in research on autism in higher education, I was thrilled to receive, with my colleague Dr. Bradley E. Cox, a $500,000 grant from the Spencer Foundation as we make sense of autistic college student success. This research study is allowing us to study, at a national level for the first time, the experiences of autistic undergraduate college students and what matters to them in terms of feeling successful (e.g., mental health, friendship, graduation, employment).

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

SCC represents a "community" in the truest sense of the word. Everyone enters college from various vantage points. SCC honors that spirit by creating opportunities that foster comfort, friendship, and academic possibilities for students across numerous life experiences and entry points.

Tell us about your journey after graduating from SCC.

I am an Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Communication at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. After leaving SCC with an AAS, I completed a BA and MA at ASU, and a PhD at the University of Central Florida. Then I returned to school to get an MFA in Film & Television Production (to finally complete a lifelong personal and professional dream since graduating from SCC in 2005). Some of the best times of my life were at SCC and I share those stories with my students today. I have developed film production and theory courses at my current institution, and my community college experience helped me get hired, as so many of our student population are transferring in from two-year schools. I have had quite the journey since leaving SCC in 2005 and subsequently AZ in 2009.

Tell us the ways that SCC prepared you for additional education and your career.

I had some of the best professors and met some of the best people. My experiences at SCC were deeply impactful, and I remain good friends with many people from those days.

Tell us about your involvement at SCC: list extracurricular and co-curricular affiliations such as clubs, organizations, programs, honors, and athletic teams.

I was deeply involved in the film program then - all we did was make films in and out of class. It was a special, tight-knit community.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey?

Stay in touch with the friends you make as an undergrad - these will often become lifelong friendships.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

I earned an AAS in Film and Television Production, with a Certificate in Acting and Directing.

Alumna Spotlight: Marci Mazzarotto Publishes The Jersey Shore on Film

Scottsdale Community College alumna Marci Mazzarotto is shining a spotlight on an overlooked chapter of American film history with the publication of her new book, The Jersey Shore on Film.

After discovering a significant gap in the documented history of filmmaking in New Jersey, particularly along the Jersey Shore, Mazzarotto spent years researching the region's cinematic legacy. The result is the first and only book dedicated to exploring more than 110 years of filmmaking along the Jersey Shore's 130 miles of coastline.

The book profiles more than 140 films, along with television shows and music videos, revealing the rich and often overlooked role the Jersey Shore has played in film history.

"The idea for this project first came about in 2019, after noticing quite a large gap in the documented history of cinema in New Jersey, particularly throughout the Jersey Shore," Mazzarotto said. "After years of dedicated research, I am incredibly proud and happy to finally be able to share this wonderful little book with the public."

Although grounded in scholarly research, Mazzarotto intentionally wrote the book for a broad audience. "While the book is written by an academic, it is not academic in tone," she explained. "The book was written to be fun and informational for either the ardent lover of film and the Jersey Shore or the casual bookstore visitor. Either way, I guarantee that every reader will discover a tidbit of history that they did not know before."

Mazzarotto serves as Associate Professor and Department Chair of Communication at Georgian Court University in New Jersey. Her research focuses on the intersection of academic theory and artistic practice, with an emphasis on film, television, popular culture, and the avant-garde.

Congratulations to Marci on this exciting achievement and for preserving an important piece of film history through her scholarship.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

The opportunity to connect with returning adults like me who are continuing their education. And to learn software skills that will enhance my career.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I moved to Phoenix in January 2025 from Houston due to my position with Bank of America. I came with the desire to continue developing my skills in the financial program area and complete the series licenses, as well as further advance at my place of employment.

Tell us about your experience at SCC.

I initially enrolled in an Investments class at SCC. Although I found the class and the instructor to be good, I realized that was not enough. I decided to pivot and pursue my passion in visual communication and design. I realized that it was important to align my aspirations with my love for art and fashion. How could I bring together and bridge the gap from finance to the world of art? I decided to drop the class I was in and follow my passion. I was fortunate to connect with SCC’s Jennie Kale, Interim Program Director of Digital Arts & Visual Communication, and discuss my interests. She was very responsive, and with her guidance and support, I selected courses that aligned with my interests in art and fashion. Jennie helped me choose the classes that would provide me with the foundational skills I would need. She provided the confidence boost I needed to succeed despite having minimal experience. Since these are areas I am passionate about, I do not dread the full-time work I do and the five-course load that this entails.

All the courses have alleviated my doubt that I could pick up the information and complete the coursework. These courses have helped to reinforce my interests. I am working on creating a coffee table book and developing a business that will enable me to continue to work in the fields I am passionate about. The assignments allow me to focus on what I want to do. All of the courses are intertwined and echo each other very well. I have learned how to create a website and develop a full marketing campaign to support my goals.

I appreciate the opportunity to develop relationships with the other students. The environment is collaborative and supportive.

List any scholarship(s) you received while attending SCC.

I receive continuing education financial support from my employer, Bank of America.

Please describe your involvement at SCC. What role did that involvement play in your overall SCC experience?

I am currently involved in several employee groups at my workplace, including Black Professional Group, the Arizona Employee Network Council, and the LGBTQ+ Network.

Tell us what degrees or certificates you earned or what types of classes you completed at SCC.

I am taking classes in Visual Communication. In December 2025, I will complete a Certificate of Completion (CCL) in graphic design, and I plan to continue taking courses in creative branding and digital process management.

What are your plans after graduating from SCC? Where did you start, and where are you now?

My goal is to earn an Associate's degree in Applied Science with a focus on Visual Communication. I plan to continue working towards my Bachelor's degree. I have credits that will transfer from a previous institution. I will use these certificates and degrees to transition into communication roles at Bank of America.

What advice would you give others embarking on their college journey? What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

Follow your passion! When you pursue your passion, nothing feels like a chore. Do not choose a career based on the salary. Your energy, endurance, time, and money will have been invested, and yet you will remain unfulfilled.

How has SCC helped influence your success?

Everyone needs a Graphic Designer. I found that out right away when I started getting asked to make birthday invitations, save the dates, posters, t-shirt designs, you name it. I was lucky enough to get a full time job in the field even before I graduated SCC. It can be overwhelming when you're new to the industry, but if you take the time to learn the craft, Graphic Design is a skill that will always keep you employed.

What value has SCC brought to your personal life and or career?

I see a lot of people in my age range struggling to find careers or jobs that make them happy. Every time I get frustrated with a client, my job, or myself, I think about what I was doing before I went to SCC for Graphic Design. Work will always be work, even if you're doing what you love...but I've found that if you enjoy your work, the frustration and struggles are so much more rewarding at the end of the day.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

Amazing teachers, and an awesome curriculum that isn't offered anywhere else.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I signed up for classes in the Spring of 2018 on a whim, unsure of what I wanted to do, but sure that I wanted to go back to school. I was immediately blown away by how much the Graphic Design Program had to offer. I enjoyed learning in a way I hadn't in the past, and eventually I became obsessed with typography, digital color theory, negative space, Printing with a capital P, the history of design, and more. I feel incredibly lucky to have found a career that feels less like work, and more like a creative passion that I happen to get paid for.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

I had the pleasure of coordinating the 2018 Creative Expo. It was a lot of work, and I was still new in the program so it was a great opportunity to get to know my classmates and show off the design skills I had acquired up to that point.

Have you visited SCC since you graduated? If so, tell us about your latest visit.

I haven't visited in a while due to the Pandemic, but I do remain in close contact with a few teachers. I consider Peggy Deal (the Graphic Communications program chair) a mentor and a friend, and will probably be seeking her out for advice for the rest of my career.

What would you say to convince someone to come to SCC?

If you're unsure about whether or not to go to SCC, just think about this: 2 years are going to pass by whether you go to school or not. At the end of those 2 years you could have a degree and a ton of job opportunities, so why not at least try it?

What are you doing now and for whom?

I work for a company called Runbeck Election Services. As their PrePress Graphic Designer, I work closely with 18+ states and dozens of counties in the U.S. to prepare for print, edit, and design various election deliverables. These include Voter Information Guides, Publicity Pamphlets, Election Envelopes, and other related materials. When the election cycle slows down, I collaborate with our Marketing Team on internal projects and marketing campaigns.