Alumni Spotlight: Courtney Fowler

Madden Levin - April 25, 2022

Communication graduate Courtney Fowler '12 has made quite an impression with her educational and career journey since Rosemont; her incredible coast-to-coast endeavors that lead her right back home is an amazing story to hear. Rosemont provided Courtney with a love for community and the ability to create meaningful relationships, all of which has become imperative in her job as a strategic digital communications consultant partnered with non-profit organizations. Read more about Courtney Fowler’s wonderful journey below.

Q: What made you choose to attend Rosemont College?

A: Going to Rosemont was a very intentional choice for me. I knew upon entering college that I wanted to go straight to a large graduate school, so it became essential for me to develop the foundation of my education at a smaller institution where I could create community and really create meaningful relationships. Thankfully, I found that experience at Rosemont.

Q: What did you study at Rosemont, and what was your graduation year? What activities were you involved in outside the classroom?

A: I studied communication and I graduated with a B.A. in 2012. Outside of the classroom, I was the layout editor and a lifestyle/culture writer for “The Rambler” newspaper and I worked as a communications intern in the Office of College Relations.

Q: How did your participation in activities (The Rambler, Thorn, etc.), as well as being an active member of the campus community, enrich your college experience and set you up for your future education and career?

A: Both experiences have been so vital to my professional career in communications. They’ve taught me the value of dedication, being nimble and, most importantly, accountable and technically skillful in my work. The valuable lessons that I learned, both inside and outside of the classroom at Rosemont, fully prepared me to become a communications leader, not just an employee.

Q: What is some advice you'd give current students debating whether or not they want to get involved in on-campus clubs, organizations, teams, etc.?

A: My biggest piece of advice for Rosemont students considering joining a club would be to take time to really evaluate what your passions are and pursue them through campus activities.

Admittedly, I was NOT the most sociable student while at Rosemont. I also worked a part-time job and commuted during my last two years, which disconnected me from campus life even more. However, my connections through my internship and The Rambler fully informed both the type of writer (and professional) that I’ve become. They also taught me the valuable function of project management and being a strategic collaborator – both of which have served me well.

Q: We know you have several classes and professors throughout the course of earning your degree. Which class(es) and professor(s) made the biggest impact on you?

A: There have been so many classes and professors that I enjoyed while at Rosemont, but learning under Dr. Mary Ann Macartney is easily one of the most impactful experiences of my life. As a comms major, she wasn’t my advisor, but she became an impactful mentor to me in every way– from professionalism to reminders that there’s an important distinction between reading to just read and reading to comprehend to introducing me to literature that I would’ve never picked up – her guidance has influenced every aspect of my education. I couldn’t be more grateful for her.

(I also still have the textbook from her African American Literature class and reference it to this day!).

Q: Can you describe your education/career path since graduation? Please include your current professional position(s) and tell me a bit about what your role entails.

A: The semester after graduating from Rosemont, I moved to Los Angeles to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. In May 2014, I graduated from USC with a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism. I’ve since moved home to be closer to family and have served in a multitude of corporate communications leadership roles at non-profit and public service institutions including the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and California State University’s Office of the Chancellor.

Currently, I work as a strategic digital communications consultant partnering with non-profit organizations nationally to define, strategize, and execute their communications initiatives through effective messaging and tactics.

Q: Overall, how has your education at Rosemont shaped your personal and professional life?

A: Being at Rosemont taught me how impactful the community of an organization can be on your experience there. Rosemont is small but mighty and, as someone whose had the privilege of being part of multiple higher education institutions, I can easily say that it has felt the most personal and dedicated to my success as a person.