Graduate school was one of the most transcendent academic experiences of my life: building a dream career

“WRTC was one of the most transcendent academic experiences of my life, and I wish everyone could experience it.” —Nina Varma, ‘19

When Nina Varma entered the Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication (WRTC) Graduate Program, she never suspected that her graduate studies would lead her to a career as a Scrum Lead for NBCUniversal. In this role, Nina uses approaches such as “Agile Project Management” to help keep teams organized and focused as they work on projects in small iterative steps called “sprints.”

As project steps are delivered to the client, teams receive feedback, and they quickly adjust deliverables as needed. At the end of each sprint, teams review what was done and discuss what went well and what could be improved. This cycle repeats until the entire project is finished. As a Scrum Lead, Nina facilitates this process, makes sure everyone stays on track and communicates effectively, and helps her team deliver projects efficiently.

During her time in the WRTC Graduate Program, Nina developed her project management, coordination, and team building skills. For example, as a Graduate Assistant at JMU’s Health Center, she used Trello to organize tasks and keep teams focused. Now, at NBCUniversal, she uses similar tools (like Jira) to organize her work. "WRTC taught me to manage projects effectively," she says. Nina now utilizes these skills to oversee multiple projects and ensure team collaboration.

Nina notes that during her time in the WRTC Graduate Program that she benefited from a variety of coursework that helped her understand different communication methodologies and how to be receptive of different approaches. One of her favorite courses was the "Rhetoric of Graffiti" because it opened her eyes to the value of different communication perspectives, a skill that helps her stay flexible and responsive as she collaborates with team members.

The WRTC Graduate Program also helped Nina grow personally and professionally. She values the program’s inclusive environment and supportive instructors. “The co-ownership in the classroom and the guidance I received were incredible,” she says. “They shaped me into the leader I am today.”

Graduates of WRTC work in a diverse array of fields including news, media, web design, marketing, information technology, education, healthcare and many other fields. They take roles as copy writers, grant writers, content strategists, media directors, technical writers, health communication specialists, project managers, and so much more!

For anyone considering WRTC, Nina advises them to "Find something you’re passionate about, build connections, and don’t be afraid to grow.” Learn more about the WRTC Graduate Program.