Alumni Success

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

I was so excited to be part of the Equine Science program at SCC. I wasn’t sure what my career would look like, but I knew I wanted to help people and somehow involve horses. SCC also appealed to me because my godmother Marianne Roccaforte-Gardner and my grandma Lois Roma-Deeley worked for SCC and sang its praises.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

Of all my college experiences, the Equine Program at SCC was the most memorable and impactful. I made such wonderful connections while there and have fond memories of the hands-on classes where we got to handle horses directly. I’ll never forget my time in the Equine Anatomy class where I got to do a full-body necropsy with the late Dr. Elaine Carpenter. Truly, it was the best college experience I could’ve asked for.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

My favorite memory of SCC occurred in the parking lot when I received a phone call offering my dream internship at a Young Life camp where I would be in charge of 52 equines, running trail rides daily and managing volunteers/staff. This is my favorite memory of SCC because being offered this internship and being able to confidently run that summer program would not have been possible without my Equine Science degree.

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

SCC has brought endless value to my life and career. The Equine Science program changed the trajectory of my career and life goals for which I am forever grateful.

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

I attended SCC from 2016-2018. I earned my Associate of Arts and Associate of Equine Science.

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

When I left SCC, I went to ASU to finish my Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. During that time I ran a trail riding program at a Young Life camp for the summer of 2018, worked for horse trainers, taught lessons and provided horse care at a therapeutic riding program, and drove carriages for Scottsdale Horse and Carriage. Once I graduated from ASU, I started a horseback riding lesson program where I taught lessons from August 2019 to December 2020. I then started my Master's in Counseling with an emphasis on Somatic Experiencing in August of 2021 at Prescott College. This pursuit combined my love for people and the power of healing with horses to become an Equine Assisted Psychotherapist. I am now a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) working under Skye Therapy Solutions where we offer Equine Assisted Therapy. We work with people ages 6+ with ADHD, ASD, and anxiety. I am extremely passionate about grief and loss and plan to specialize in this area when I one day own my private practice. It’s been quite the journey to get to where I am today but I am so grateful for every experience.

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

I loved my time at the Maricopa Community Colleges. I hopped around to a few of them before landing at SCC. I consider SCC my home base because of how wonderful my experience was there. I recommend SCC to anyone who wishes to have a rewarding and special college experience.

Tell us about your time at SCC.

I initially attended ASU’s dance program but ultimately couldn’t afford the tuition and had to leave. After a year without dancing, I decided to try a dance class at SCC. After that one class, I knew I was fully committed to completing my dance education with SCC. It was an affordable education that was unparalleled by any other I had experienced in the past. They saw me as more than a student; they saw me as a human with multiple full-time jobs. However, they still held me to high standards and pushed me to reach for greatness.

What are you doing now and for whom?

I am currently a faculty member of the dance department at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, CA. I teach two fitness classes, Modern I and II, and Dance Production, and choreograph each semester for their shows.

How did SCC influence your success?

The faculty of SCC are true rock stars and have influenced who I am as an artist and a person! I am pursuing a career in teaching dance in higher education because of the faculty.

Tell us about your favorite memory of SCC.

One of my favorite memories from SCC was being awarded “most improved” in Modern II during the Artie Awards! I remember feeling like I was finally making real progress in my dance journey after a long time of feeling like I wasn’t getting anywhere. This honor lifted my spirits and reminded me I was on the right path! Have you visited SCC since you graduated? If so, tell us about your visit. Yes! I came to the 2020 ACDA hosted by SCC where my choreography was selected for the Gala and to compete at Nationals. I also recently visited SCC as a guest artist and took over teaching the Modern III class for a week. I look forward to continuing my relationship with SCC Dance and everyone in the department.

What made SCC the right fit for you?

The faculty and community were committed to excellence and guided by love!