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Grace Johnson

Grace Johnson
BS in Media and Cinema Studies, minors in French & Interdisciplinary African American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Area(s) of Interest: Music, TV/film, Fine arts, Arts/music festivals, Entrepreneurship, PR/Marketing

Experience: My most significant extracurricular experiences include participating as a Roger Ebert Fellow in Arts Criticism and serving my community through social justice initiatives. As a fellow, I was able to stretch myself as a communicator through a variety of platforms. I had a great time with my co-fellows in developing work in criticism, opinion writing, podcasting, and other fun mediums. When it comes to programming, I’ve enjoyed cultivating positive experiences for underserved populations in my community. One of my favorite memories of this is hosting an event where Black women could reflect on their unique experiences through popular media. The attendees were also able to participate in activities that supported their mental/emotional health.

Ideal Job in 10 Years: My ideal role in about 10 years is working with a company/brand that is action-driven and committed to service in a variety of ways. This could be through marketing, television, beauty/cosmetic initiatives, retail, fashion, or even music. I still want to explore what this looks like for me. However, I want my work to be exciting and have a significant impact on the well-being of society.

What led you to enroll in the MSLCE program at Northwestern? I wanted to continue my education with a program that equipped me with business acumen while still supporting my creativity. While complimenting my undergraduate areas of study, I wanted a program that challenged me to apply what I’ve learned. The MSLCE program seemed like the perfect, niche opportunity to support these goals.

What are you most looking forward to about the MSLCE program? I’m very excited to experience MSLCE’s speaker series and internship. I love to learn about the testimonies of others, and I look forward to seeing what work opportunity I will gravitate towards. I’m also excited to meet others in my cohort and get a sense of what they’re passionate about!

If you could have lunch with one person (living or dead), who would it be? If I could have lunch with one person, it would be Bozoma Saint John. She’s a public figure I’ve paid close attention to recently. I love the way she carries herself as an authentic leader in the media industry.

Which leader or influential figure inspires you the most and why? The women in my family are influential figures who inspire me the most. They all have their unique strengths and testimonies. They also support me in my growth.

Where are you from? Oak Park, IL