A Supportive Foundation Can Go a Long Way

Cal State University Dominguez Hills alumni Manuel Brizuela, 22, is currently seeking a master’s degree at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota but he credits the CSUDH Communications Department with giving him the foundation for achieving his educational and professional ambitions.

Brizuela, who attended CSUDH from 2012 to 2016, has dreams of becoming an NHL sports writer for one of the 31 professional teams. As an undergraduate at CSUDH, Brizuela was a Communications major with a focus on journalism. He was a member of the Society of Independent Student Journalists (SISJ) beginning his sophomore year and worked his way up to become SISJ president during his last year at CSUDH.

While taking classes for his major, Brizuela felt that his professors in the Communications Department supplied him with the proper skills for life after CSUDH.

“I think the biggest skill I learned is how to tailor my writing for different mediums,” Brizuela said. “A skill that is important to have considering we are living in a highly digitized world. Also, under the eye of Cathy Risling, and the news production workshop, I got firsthand experience in AP Style writing.”

At St. Cloud State University, Brizuela currently holds the position of graduate assistant for ticket sales in the athletic department. Next semester, he will be presented with his biggest opportunity yet, covering the SCSU hockey team for uscho.com—a leader in college hockey news.

The move takes Brizuela from a Division Two athletic school to a NCAA Division One hockey school. While the sports program at SCSU may be bigger, Brizuela is quick to point out that the passion he received from his CSUDH professors remains unmatched.

According to Brizuela, even though CSUDH is not a big university with high enrollment, its students are able to create personal bonds and relationships with their professors.

“Another difference is the passion conveyed by the professors. I love my professors here, but there are no ‘Dr. Eagles’ nor ‘Dr. Cheevers’ that I have met so far [at SCSU],” Brizuela said.

Brizuela also credits the CSUDH Communications Department with properly preparing him and other students to step outside their comfort zones.

“They prepared me in the most effective manner,” Brizuela said. “That is, hands-on experience through the school newspaper, internship requirements, and having industry professionals as faculty and staff. The department forces students to go out of their comfort zones, conduct real research and studies, and this is all topped by passionate professors.”

Though initially nervous about attending graduate school, Brizuela now feels confident his training at CSUDH has prepared him not only for a graduate-level education but also for what lies beyond in his profession.

As an alumni of the CSUDH Communications Department, Brizuela reflects positively on his undergraduate experience at CSUDH and believes the department will continue to prepare future classes with the skills and opportunities they need to find success for whatever paths they choose.

“I most definitely think the department is headed in the right direction,” Brizuela said, “especially with the [SISJ] club growing, a strong campus newspaper, and networking opportunities left and right.”