Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Media and Society & English double major; Italian Studies minorRyan Brady ’26 (she/her)

Buffalo, NY
I like the MDSC major because there are a variety of classes that allow me to explore new areas but also find classes specific to my interests. I have really enjoyed classes like American Cinema, Film Editing, and Media Industries. Outside of the major, I work as a digital media assistant in the DLC as well as working with the Geneva Downtown Film Festival, and enjoy creating short films with my friends.

Writing and Rhetoric major; Media and Society & Italian Studies double minor Brianna Del Rosario ’25 (she/her)

Bronx, NY
The MDSC program has broadened my perspective on how media shapes and influences us individually and collectively. Whether through social media, film, video games, or advertising, media allows a space for different communities of like-minded individuals to come together and offer similar and/or new perspectives. Classes like Digital Rome, Global Video Games, and Cultures of Advertising taught me that even the tiniest details are purposefully placed to amplify influence, making media a strategic art form. At HWS I am the Vice President of UNICEF, a member of Theta Phi Alpha, a Writing Colleague/Fellow and a Senior Intern at Admissions. 

Media and Society majorJo Fernandez ’26 (she/her)

 

Media and Society major; Philosophy & Management and Entrepreneurship double minorIsabella Hayes ’27 (she/her)

Bronx, NY
What I like most about the MDSC program is the many pathways you can take in terms of careers. The program is incredibly flexible and malleable to what fits best for me. I would like to have a career in sports media/photography, and the MDSC program has many opportunities for me to do get experiences in both those areas. For sports photography, I’ve submitted some photos for a class as a project. The MDSC program has given me amazing opportunities to find what I love to do not only in campus life but in my work life as well.

Writing and Rhetoric & Media and Society double major; American Studies minor Sadie Herr ’27 (she/her)

Swarthmore, PA
Through the MDSC program, I have been able to explore the interaction between our world and the media through an interdisciplinary curriculum. I most enjoy learning about marketing and advertising techniques while exploring how we as humans interact with the media daily. This major has allowed me to hone my interests while also having the opportunity to explore new avenues—always guided by extensive support and encouragement. On campus, I am a Writing Colleague, I work for the Office of Admissions, and I am the First Year Liaison on the board for Hillel. I plan to study abroad in London next spring, and I intend to pursue a career in editorial magazine journalism.

Management and Entrepreneurship & Media and Society double majorAbigail Jones ‘26 (she/her)

Nantucket, MA
The support and encouragement I have received from the MDSC faculty have greatly enhanced my experience at HWS. What I appreciate most about the Media and Society program is the chance to explore how media influences our perceptions and interactions with the world. The faculty's guidance has created an environment where I feel empowered to think critically about media's impact on society. At HWS, I am a member of the field hockey team, an Athletic Study Mentor, a Writing Colleague, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team Representative.

Media and Society and Spanish double majorLucia Langan ‘26 (she/her)

Manchester, VT
Media and Society has offered me an incredible opportunity to expand my knowledge in various fields of marketing, advertising, and cultural studies. My favorite part is how the program evolves alongside current events, making it dynamic and relevant. The major has given me many tools to adapt and help me prepare for my future and grow personally and professionally. This spring, I will be studying in London, England. In addition, I serve as a Media and Society Teaching Assistant and am a member of the HWS Tutor Corps program.

Media and Society majorMarcus Peterson '27

Ewing, NJ
My favorite part about Media and Society is the variety of media, cultures, and different marketing techniques we learn along the way. I have learned so much regarding advertisement, cultures, and understanding certain trends in society. This major has broadened my perspective on not just media and society but the different tools I will be able to use in life that I have learned from the major. At HWS, I am a member of the Hobart football team and a teaching assistant for the major.

MEDIA AND SOCIETY AND AMERICAN STUDIES DOUBLE MAJORMia Tetrault ’25 (she/her)

Los Angeles, CA
The MDSC program has afforded me the opportunity to take interdisciplinary courses and meet students across academic disciplines. The encouragement and support I have received from the MDSC faculty have significantly enriched my experience at HWS. Last summer I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, and this spring I will study abroad in New Zealand. At HWS I am a teaching assistant for MDSC 100, a Davis Gallery assistant, and a member of the William Smith tennis team. My most recent project involves working as an art intern, where I have been cataloguing George Stephanopoulos’ photography collection.

MEDIA AND SOCIETY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND MANAGEMENT DOUBLE MAJORWYATT TOBIN '26

Montclair, NJ
My favorite part about the Media and Society is the insight into different cultures, media channels, and marketing techniques. Through the major, we learn about the history of media but also a variety of tools and techniques that are applicable in our professional careers. At the Colleges, I am a member of the Hobart football team, Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, the Investment Club and the Orange Key Honor Society.

MEDIA AND SOCIETY MAJOR; THEATRE MINORSHIA WADE ’25 (SHE/HER)

Los Angeles, CA
My favorite part of the Media and Society major is the interdisciplinary curriculum – for example, a women’s studies course which explored the way structures of power and inequality affect the way people experience space. I am studying abroad in Rome, Italy this Spring. At HWS, I have served as the William Smith Congress Vice President, a projectionist for the Kino Fish film series, a social media Intern for Communications, and a site coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club.

MEDIA AND SOCIETY MAJORMadeline Wasner '25

Through the Media and Society program I have been able to dive into my interests of digital media and film, as well as explore a multitude of new areas. Classes I have taken, like Cultures of Advertising, Documentary Production for Social Change, or being a teaching assistant for MDSC 100 have encouraged me to learn from an interdisciplinary perspective. Strong connections with MDSC professors have significantly supported and helped guide my experience at HWS. During my time here I have studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, interned at the Smith Opera House, and am a member of the William Smith rowing team, Kinetic Dance Collective and String Ensemble.

MEDIA AND SOCIETY MAJORPaige Wilson ’26 (she/her)

The MDSC program has allowed me to explore all the different career paths and opportunities I can tap into by giving me a foundation of media knowledge to build on as I see fit. I have really enjoyed classes like Cultures of Advertising and Media Industries and Alternatives, which have helped me develop hard and soft skills applicable to my chosen career path. Outside of the major, I work for HWS Admissions as a tour guide, I am a marketing director for HWS Recreation and Intramurals, and I am the team videographer for the Hobart football team.