Meet Tara Long
In efforts to accomplish her career goals, Tara Long knew she had to get the proper education. Murrow helped her do so.
Despite getting her BS in Applied Meteorology and previously working multiple years for the Department of Defense, Long changed her career path.
In 2015, Long took on a position in communications for a public-school district and is now the Communications Coordinator for the Orting School District outside of Tacoma, WA. She handles duties such as media and crisis communication, strategic bond and levy campaign planning and community engagement. A perk of her position that Long enjoys is being able to share the success stories of kids reaching their potential.
Although Long has had years of experience in the communication field, she knew that having a degree to back her up was a must for her future. With the support of her two children, Long began her journey towards receiving her degree.
After researching various programs, Long found that the MA Strategic Communication program would be the best fit for her. Why WSU? “It stood out because it was affordable and offered courses that I knew would help me grow as a communications professional,” she said.
Before enrolling in this program, Long felt confident in many aspects of the communication field, dealing with stakeholders being one. But there were also other areas that she knew she needed growth in, like crisis communication and graphic design. Another aspect she was pleasantly surprised to learn about was the video editing and survey design that is offered. Now near the end of her program, Long has gained tools that she didn’t have before.
“My MA in Strategic Communication from WSU has equipped me with the knowledge to balance the reach of digital media with the power of personal connections,” she said. It was also a pleasant surprise for Long to have the opportunity to learn about tools such as Adobe and Canva that she will now be able to use moving forward in her career path.
As a single mother raising two children while working full-time, Long is extremely proud of herself for completing this degree. “I did this for “our lil’ family”, as we call it, and I am excited for them to join me in Pullman in December as I graduate,” she said.
In the coming years, Long would like to continue working in school communications or possibly transitioning into advocacy work dealing with environmental conservation.
Learn more about the online MA Strategic Communication program
Author: Emma Lorrigan (Nov 2019)