An Academic Journey to Argentina!

By Hailey Clodfelter

For my last semester at UNC, I knew I wanted to create a project that featured all of my skills from undergrad and graduate school. In undergrad, I majored in media and journalism and romance languages with a minor in studio art. Now as a double Tar Heel, I have returned for my M.A. in media and communications with a focus in strategic communications. Since my experience is all over the place, I fully expected to have to pursue an independent study or go out of my way to create some sort of campaign on my own.

Until I heard about MEJO 584: International Projects! I could not have been more excited when I learned that the class was headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina. This was it! An interactive, multimedia class in a Latin America country combined all of the aspects I was looking for from media and design to immersive language-practice.

This semester, my role is Advertising and Public Relations on the Interactive Design team with Ella Campbell. We are responsible for creating content throughout the semester for all of the story teams as well as promoting the overarching campaign and the screening following our return. Since Ella and I have backgrounds in Spanish, I am looking forward to creating bilingual content for UNC and Argentinian students!

In less than two months, I will be traveling to Buenos Aires with 26 other talented UNC students. We have already been hard at work compiling background research, coming up with themes and topics and consulting with our partner university, the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina in Buenos Aires.

I look forward to learning more about the history and current state of Buenos Aires. I have a lot left to learn from my coaches and peers and can’t wait to reveal the finished project. I am thankful to have the opportunity to explore a new country and gain a new perspective on global storytelling!

P.S. Did I mention this is my first trip outside of the United States?!