An interview with Alicia Guzman ’25.
What was your favorite Simmons course and why?
My two favorite courses I’ve taken are “Feminist Media Studies” (WGSS 398) with Professor Suzanne Leonard and “Video Journalism” (COMM 322) with Associate Professor of Practice Erica Moura, which I coincidentally took during the same semester.
“Feminist Media Studies” showed me the interdisciplinary approach to media studies and educated me to a whole new world of scholarly theories that included feminist, queer, trans, and Latinx studies. Additionally, the final project allowed me to explore my specific interests and inspired me to pursue a media studies degree in graduate school.
“Video Journalism” gave me hands-on experience with multimedia journalism. I learned to combine my journalism skills with the artistry required in video production to create compelling stories. Professor Moura encouraged us to go out of our comfort zones and the whole class pushed me to become a better journalist.
Who was your most inspirational Simmons professor/mentor and why?
There are several professors I could name but Professor Moura [from the Department of Communications] and Professor Leonard [from the Department of Gender, Race, and Sexuality Studies and Program Director for Gender and Cultural Studies] are for sure at the top of the list.
Professor Moura inspired me to pursue the journalism track for my communications major and I’ve loved journalism ever since. She’s always been very supportive and someone I look to for advice. Professor Leonard inspired me to focus on feminist media studies, which is what I plan to focus on in graduate school. She’s also been very supportive of my goals and continuously pushed me to become a better scholar.
Did your course of study entail any internships?
Throughout my senior year, I’ve been a communications intern at Scorpion Therapeutics, a biotech company based in Boston.
How has Simmons prepared you for your career path or intended profession?
Two research projects I have done immediately come to mind. I am going to graduate school in the fall to pursue graduate work in communications, and these research projects showed me I am capable of conducting high-level and in-depth scholarly research.
The first was the SURPASs [Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons] project that I did the summer after my junior year with Associate Professor of Communications Briana Martino. For that project, I combined multimedia journalism with academic research in feminist media studies and fan studies to create a video essay titled “Complicating the ‘Strong Female Character’: Katniss Everdeen’s Impact on Fans.” Through interviews with longtime fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I examined the series’ lasting influence, arguing that what attracted young audiences to Katniss Everdeen differed from how mass media framed Katniss as a postfeminist “strong female lead.”
The second project is a research article I’m writing as the capstone for my literature major. The article, provisionally entitled “‘No One Likes a Madwoman, You Made Her Like That’: Taylor Swift’s Use of the Madwoman in the Attic Trope to Create Victimhood,” is a study on how Swift’s recent use of “madwoman” and psychiatric asylum imagery and themes in The Tortured Poets Department album [further shape] her star persona.
How has Simmons taught you to be a leader?
Being on the editorial board of Sidelines Magazine [a literary and arts magazine published by Simmons/Colleges of the Fenway] since my junior year has helped me develop leadership skills. Simmons’ Student Driven Media organizations push all of us to get out of our comfort zones to create something of which we can be proud.
How did you find your community at Simmons?
A main way I found my community was through Sidelines Magazine. Being the writing editor helped me meet so many creative people at Simmons. It’s an incredible collaborative endeavor, and I’ve made a lot of friends through it.
In your experience, what was the best thing about attending college in Boston?
I love being in the city because there’s always something to do. Through Simmons, we can go to the Museum of Fine Arts for free, which I have utilized for several classes. We’re also along the green [MBTA] line, which helps to get around Boston.
What is your favorite Simmons memory?
My favorite memories are the layout days for each semester’s publication of Sidelines. It’s a culmination of weeks of going through submissions, and we literally lay out all the art and writing pieces we’ve selected. It can get chaotic, but all together we finalize what pieces are going into the magazine and decide the order and pairs for each spread.
What advice do you have for current and incoming Simmons students?
I recommend talking to your professors. There are a lot of talented faculty members at Simmons who are passionate about what they do. They are an incredible resource for learning, not just in the classroom but also for your intended career.