Leadership Takes the Stage
From the bustling streets of New York City to back home to South Dakota, seeking a new challenge led one Gonzaga student to a life-changing journey. Driven by a passion for human connection and a desire to step outside her comfort zone, Emily Magera enrolled in Gonzaga’s M.A. in Communication & Leadership (COML) program. What followed was an unforgettable experience ranging from an impactful study abroad immersion in Cali, Colombia, to taking the TEDx Sioux Falls stage for her capstone project.
In this Q&A, Magera shares how Gonzaga helped her grow as a servant leader, connect with inspiring faculty, and embrace a lifelong commitment to learning.
Why did you decide to return to school for a master's degree?
I decided to return to school for a master's degree because I needed to challenge myself. After undergrad, I moved to New York City to try out city life and see what working in the entertainment business was all about. In the hustle and bustle of the city, I felt challenged every day. When my intuition told me I had work to do back home, I moved back to South Dakota and quickly felt too comfortable. That's when I started looking into master's programs.
Why did you choose Gonzaga and the M.A. in Communication & Leadership (COML) program?
I chose Gonzaga because of the course selection, the study abroad opportunity to Cali, Colombia, and the on-campus immersion experiences. I've always been fascinated by how people communicate with each other. I love the fine arts, theatre especially, and how people share messages with an audience is endlessly interesting to me. I knew I wanted to keep studying communication, and Gonzaga's program stood out because it wasn't limited to marketing and public relations. I appreciated the course offerings in ethics and intercultural communication, and I loved the chance to learn about servant leadership and women's leadership. I'd also never been to South America, and the opportunity to witness leadership in action alongside classmates, professors, and peers in Colombia felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am so grateful I found Gonzaga.
You recently spoke on the TEDx Sioux Falls stage. Tell us about your speech and how your time in the COML program played a part in the experience.
My TEDx Sioux Falls talk was my capstone project for my master's degree. Titled "From Extra to Essential," it drew on my time on set as a background actor and explored skills I learned through the COML program like servant leadership and how communication shifts across different settings. My time in the COML program helped me write an engaging, informative 13-minute presentation. I was able to craft my story clearly and effectively thanks to the work I did in the program.
What has your return on investment been? Financial, career, personal, etc.
Your education is something nobody can ever take away. I grew a lot personally throughout this program. I pursued my master's out of a genuine desire to learn, not because a job or immediate career advancement demanded it. Because of that, I put in the work and wanted to do well, to grow and better myself as a lifelong learner, critical thinker, and leader.
What was your experience with the faculty like?
The Gonzaga faculty are incredible. Most of my classes were online, but through my professor’s comments and engagement in the online classroom, I could tell they were rooting for me, and I still feel that support now. I'm so grateful for the chances I had to visit campus, as well as my study abroad trip to Colombia, where met my professors in person. That made walking across the stage at graduation even sweeter, seeing their faces genuinely excited for me. Dr. Schlossberg has been a huge advocate for sharing my experiences in Cali as well as my TEDx talk, and I appreciate his support as I look for new opportunities and continue challenging myself in new ways.
Did you do an immersion, either in-person or online? If so, what was your experience?
I did two immersions. The first was for COML 599, Content Creation and Strategy. This was my first time on campus in Spokane, meeting up with peers and professors in person. It was wonderful to have real-life discussions with classmates, which made it even better to see them again in my online classes afterward. Sitting in the classroom at Gonzaga, checking out the bookstore, and meeting one-on-one with my professors truly helped me feel like a Zag.
My second immersion was to Cali, Colombia, for Leadership and Community Development, an experience that changed my life. I was nervous to travel to Colombia, a place often associated in the U.S. with conflict and unrest. But once we arrived and I began working with Fundacion Juventud Arte y Vida, (Art and Life Foundation), I truly grew as a leader and a person. There's something unique about getting your hands dirty and fully immersing yourself in an experience, and Gonzaga does a wonderful job creating that in Cali. I'd encourage anyone considering the program to do an immersion. It doesn't just help you connect with classmates, it changes you.
What advice would you give to someone considering the COML program?
Do it! Do it with an open heart and an open mind. I went into this program with an idea of what I thought it would be like, and I came out a stronger leader, a person with more empathy toward others, and someone with a lifelong-learning lens for helping make the world a better place. The people you meet, the professors you learn from, and the material you work with are tools you'll use for the rest of your life.