Tanner Holland, an alumnus of the Western Carolina University communication department, shared career advice for students and described what it’s like to be a multi-media professional.
Holland graduated in 2022 with a communication degree, concentrating in Public Relations. He also had minors in Emergency and Disaster Management and Political Science.
As of Nov. 1, 2024, Holland started his position as the Emergency Management Communications Specialist for Johnston County.
Holland utilizes a range of skills working in media management from graphic design and editing to crisis communication and social media management.
“The benefit to a career in public service, and especially emergency management, is that every day is completely different,” said Holland. “Some days, my biggest focus may be creating a social media post to advise on adverse weather conditions that may make it unsafe for the public to be out. Other days, I may be giving a presentation to students in the county on careers in emergency management and paths they can take to get there.”
Holland realized he wanted to pursue communication in high school.
“After interning with my school system’s comms office,” said Holland. “That internship made me feel that communications was a fun career path and had many opportunities I could go for.”
While at Western, Holland worked as a Tech Commons student support technician. Additionally, he served as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Student Government Association.
Holland believed his most valuable experiences from Western came from a combination of applying coursework to out-of-class activities.
“I would use my free weekends and breaks to take grad photos, make wedding films for clients, build websites, or even just take photos at whatever random event was happening on campus,” said Holland. “Using my free time like this allowed me to rapidly grow in my craft and has made me a far more marketable candidate for career opportunities.”
Holland advises communication students to take advantage of your time while in college.
“Use your free time,” said Holland. “Not to say, don’t enjoy you’re time at WCU and spend time with your friends – but GET GOOD AT SOMETHING. Use some of your extra time to pick up a camera from the Comm Department and take photographs of things (events, homecoming parade, basketball game, nature). Then, bring it home and edit it. Post them to social media and make a portfolio of your free work – keep at it, and before long, it won’t have to be free work.”
We are incredibly proud of our alumni and appreciate hearing about their successes and passion for the field of communication.