Communicating the Story of You

Pre-College Workshop 

Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25, 2026
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Johnston Hall

The Diederich College of Communication invites high school students to participate in a two-day on-campus workshop where they'll use the art of storytelling to learn more about Marquette, the field of communication, media and themselves.

Students will participate in hands-on learning about media careers with leading-edge tools to discover and share their strengths, all with the guidance of Diederich College of Communication faculty. Students will also  go on trips each day to local newsrooms and agencies to experience what they are learning LIVE. Key workshop components will teach students to:

  • Discover your personal brand! Branding is an important part of strategic communication and developing your personal brand helps you represent your best, authentic self.

  • Celebrate your story by sharing who you are through mutimedia platforms, including video, audio, print and social. This exercise will help you get familiar with potential careers in strategic communication, digital media and journalism.

 

Wednesday, June 24 Event Schedule

9-9:20 a.m. Arrival and check-in
9:30-9:55 a.m. Introduction and welcome
10-11:45 a.m. Workshop 1: Creating photos 
12-12:45 p.m. Lunch and industry panel
1-1:30 p.m. Prep for site visits 
1:45 p.m.  Departure 
2-4 p.m. Site visits (TBD) 
4-4:30 p.m. Debrief 
5 p.m. Pick-up 

 

Thursday, June 25 Event Schedule

9-9:20 a.m. Arrival and check-in
9:30-9:45 a.m. Welcome for the day
10-10:45 a.m. Workshop 2: Photo voice
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Scavenger hunt
1-1:45 p.m. Workshop 3: Personal branding.      
2-2:15 p.m. Prepare for site visit
2:30 p.m. Departure
2:50-4 p.m. Site visit
4:30 p.m. Debrief
5 p.m. Pick-up

 

Cost: $100 per student

Students in need of financial aid can reach out to Dr. Patrick Johnson, assistant professor, for assistance.

For other questions, please email comm@marquette.edu 

Our Team

  • Meet the Instructors
Dr. Patrick Johnson headshot

Dr. Patrick Johnson, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies

Dr. Patrick R. Johnson is an assistant professor of journalism and media studies who is passionate about helping students understand how news works and how to create it responsibly. His research and teaching focus on news literacy, media ethics, and LGBTQ+ representation in journalism. He studies how journalists think through their decisions and how we can better prepare future reporters to be thoughtful, fair, and trustworthy. He is especially interested in building stronger connections between journalists and the communities they serve.

Outside the classroom, Dr. Johnson is active in national journalism organizations and serves in leadership roles focused on media ethics, equity, and inclusion. He is the co-author of Equitable Media Literacies, a book about helping people and communities better understand and use media in ways that strengthen democracy. He also created a new approach to journalism called “News Literate Journalism,” which encourages reporters to be reflective and to make education part of their mission. At Marquette, he teaches courses on journalism, media ethics, engagement, and gender and sexuality in the media. He loves working with students who are curious about telling meaningful stories.

Julia Schultz Faculty HeadshotJulia Schultz, Professor of Practice in Strategic Communication

Julia is a communication and public relations professional with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, leadership, and consulting. She has worked in agency settings, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and international in-house communication roles. Alongside her professional career, she has built a strong record as a university instructor, teaching courses in media writing, public relations, advertising campaigns, business communication, leadership, and communication consulting. She earned her M.A. from Marquette University and her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Julia is actively involved in professional and community organizations, including the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), TEMPO Milwaukee, and leadership roles within her local parish and school community. She has received numerous awards for both teaching and professional leadership, including Marquette’s Dean’s Award for Excellence in Part-Time Teaching. A proud Marquette alumna, Julia first discovered her love of teaching while in graduate school, when she taught public speaking for the first time. Returning to Marquette as a faculty member has brought her career full circle, and she is passionate about helping students build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

Headshot of Professor Dinesh Sabu

Dinesh Sabu, Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Performing Arts

Professor Dinesh Sabu is an assistant professor of Digital Media and Performing Arts and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. He earned his MFA in Documentary Film and Video from Stanford University and holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Chicago. In his classes, ranging from Introduction to Digital Media Production to Advanced Portfolio and Documentary Production, students learn both the technical skills of filmmaking and how to tell powerful, meaningful stories. Professor Sabu believes documentary filmmaking is more than just learning how to use a camera. It’s about creativity, critical thinking, ethical storytelling, and a commitment to social justice.

His films have been screened at festivals around the world and broadcast nationally on PBS. His feature documentary Unbroken Glass, about his journey to understand the lives and deaths of his parents, received multiple awards, and his short film Srkana (The Stop) follows a Sikh family running a truck stop on the Oklahoma–Texas border. He has also worked with Kartemquin Films on projects exploring identity, community, and belonging. Professor Sabu’s research and creative work explore how documentaries can engage social issues in new and innovative ways, with a focus on the South Asian diaspora, decolonial storytelling, mental health, trauma, and memory.

Virginia Sanchez Faculty HeadshotDr. Virginia Sanchez, Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication

Dr. Sanchez's work aims to highlight underrepresented voices in organizational spaces with the goal of improving work environments. Recently, she investigated the career trajectories of first- and second-generation Latin American immigrants. This work was awarded the Gerald R. Miller Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, as well as two top papers from the Organizational Communication Division of the National Communication Association. 

Dr. Sanchez's work has also investigated the impact of social and material resources on organizational life. She approaches research using a variety of mixed methods but she specializes in qualitative methods, such as interviewing and photovoice. Her current work investigates the organizational experiences of those who feel “called” to serve in a specific occupation.