Interview is edited for length and clarity.
What drew you to study communications, and specifically journalism?
I came in wanting to do everything. I started out thinking I would go down the English track, and I took some English classes that I loved. But I ended up really appreciating the flexibility of the journalism track in the communications program because it encouraged me to seek out all kinds of disciplines.
As a journalism student, I learned how to write, interpret, study, and research to build on my existing knowledge and skill set. I wanted to cast a wide net. I went from a double major and double minor to just majoring in journalism so I could take the classes that really interested me without worrying about specific requirements. Some professors who had a profound effect on my experiences were Jim Corcoran, Len Mailloux, Erica Moura, and Ellen Grabiner.
What impact did attending a women-centered institution have on your education?
My grandmother went to Smith College, so when I was searching for colleges, I applied to Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Simmons. It appealed to me for a number of reasons, one being the strong women in my life.
One of the best parts about studying at a women-centered institution was the diversity of identity and experience. I met so many different people, and Simmons broadened my understanding of queerness and community. I've always been someone who had closer friendships with women, so I developed tight relationships with more people than ever before.
It was a safe place overall. I felt more comfortable trying new things because I saw women and queer folks around me trying to see what worked for each of us. My close friends, who I still hold close, were in different majors, like physical therapy, public relations and marketing, and biology. I think that was a really healthy environment to learn in.
Did you have a favorite course at Simmons? Why?
A class that stands out for me was called “Globalization in the Media,” taught by Professor Len Mailloux. He was a little bit of a radical and had a long career in radio. He was dedicated to leaving his students with a healthy amount of skepticism about dominant narratives in mainstream media.
In that class, he taught us about the ownership of the media in the United States and how many of the news outlets that we regularly consume are owned by just a handful of companies. We learned what that means about information’s reliability and bias. He helped us develop a critical eye.
That class was a turning point for me and solidified my desire to focus on journalism. Through a partnership Len forged with a documentary filmmaker, we learned about conflict mineral mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I had a painful moment of self-reflection, as I realized my education up until that point hadn’t taught me the real history of colonialism and the persisting American influence in many African countries. That, of course, was one point Len was trying to tell us.
I decided from there I was just going to take more classes that would broaden my understanding of cultures that I hadn't been exposed to yet, whether by my own failing or the failing of the education system of my past. I remember taking a Chinese philosophy class and a politics of Africa class, which was one of the best decisions I ever made. I still value what I learned in that class. I studied abroad in Denmark to study positive journalism, gender studies, and conflict resolution. I really enjoyed it. That was a direction shifter for me.
What is your current role? What are your responsibilities?
I am an economic analyst and insurance correspondent for Insurify. I started at Insurify almost two years ago, beginning as a content writer. I was tasked with writing articles, walking people through the different processes for all types of insurance, and answering common questions about insurance lingo.
Everything I was writing for Insurify felt so relatable since I, too, am a young adult who realized I hadn’t interacted with insurance.
Since joining the company, I have shifted into my current role, which was initially a data journalist, but has progressed into an analyst and correspondent. I write content that is more media-facing, and I use internal insurance cost data to share insights with the public.
I incorporate weather records, climate data, tax data, crime data, and various sources to look at the different factors that influence insurance rates, contextualizing the data to ensure that we are seen as an authority and a trustworthy source. I offer interviews to news companies and other similar entities to speak about the reporting we currently do as well.
What advice would you give someone launching a journalism career?
Practice shamelessness. Take a deep breath and check your ego at the door. It is not easy, and it doesn't always feel good. I look back at myself in high school and college when my mentors told me to just go for it. I was not confident enough in myself to listen.
I should have asked for more. I should have tried harder. I should have put myself out there. I feel like, especially for the classic people-pleaser types, practicing shamelessness can be a real challenge. Advocating for myself and lifting up my colleagues with confidence has been a learning process, but it has always been worth it.