Get to Know Students At Concordia College

A Knack For Communication
By Rebecca Thomson Dec. '06

As a communication honors student I'm taking on a few more projects than the standard major requires - including two independent studies and a senior thesis. For my first project I researched superior-subordinate friendships in corporations and now I'm researching ethnocentrism, willingness to communicate and self-perceived communication competence in Zimbabwean and American students.

I became the third Concordia student ever selected to present research at the DePauw Undergraduate Honors Conference. In addition to networking with professors and students from around the country, I confirmed my hunch that Concordia's excellence in teaching and research enables it to compete with much larger universities.

I would like to ultimately have my own consulting firm, either focusing on marketing and public relations or conflict mediation. In the mean time, I plan to earn my master's degree in intercultural communication studies or international business and work for an international PR or marketing firm.

My classes and research experiences at Concordia are helping me reach my goals. I'm learning valuable leadership and organizational skills working for Residence Life, volunteering with Relay for Life, serving as a catering student manager, volunteering on the Family Weekend committee and even conducting a study of young alumni for the C-400 and Development offices. Currently, I'm working as a marketing intern Vtrenz, a Fargo integrated marketing company. Being a full-time student who also works part time and is involved on campus, I have learned to be efficient with my time and to make the most of every spare minute.