Welcome Message

August 1, 2026

Wildcats, Partners, Friends —

As we approach another academic year, I am thinking a lot about time, change and uncertainty. Every day, we hear that AI, automation or emerging technology is going to fundamentally change how we work, communicate and live.

Change has always been a constant. Now, uncertainty is all but guaranteed. The world our students graduate into may look very different from the world they experience today. Careers they may pursue — and the challenges they solve — might not even exist yet.

We believe students can adapt, create and lead in whatever future emerges.

How do we plan for a future that we cannot predict? How can we use our resources well now to set us up for a meaningful, prosperous and engaging future?  In a world where generative AI can provide answers to questions instantly, and anyone can use a platform like YouTube to learn new skills, what is the value of a college degree? A master’s degree? A doctoral degree?

We hear these questions when we meet with prospective students one-on-one in campus visits, when we advise and mentor learners starting classes or preparing for graduation, and when we partner with community and industry organizations.

The more we encounter these questions, the more we become convinced that it is the role of our School not to erase uncertainty, but to help people navigate it more confidently.

Nobody knows what communication and media will look like in 2036.

That’s why we’re actively preparing students — and ourselves, communities and industries — for anything.

Students will have to be adaptable, life-long learners who proactively and courageously solve unknown problems to advance in their careers and make a meaningful difference in their communities. Rather than preparing students for a single career path, we prepare them to learn continuously, solve unfamiliar problems, and lead through change.

Learn from People who Shape the Field

Knowledge, expertise, and influence come from lots of different places inside and outside of academia. Our award-winning faculty is comprised of scholars, industry-practitioners, community leaders, and change-makers who lend their varied forms of expertise to students inside and outside of the classroom. Small course sizes and access to caring faculty, student support experts, and vast alumni networks help students prepare for an uncertain future with confidence and courage.

Practice and Perfect Future-Proof Skills

Students tackle real communication challenges with real organizations from their first day. By the time they walk across the stage at Bramlage Coliseum, they have a strong portfolio and even stronger skills. Co-curricular activities such as internships, student media, competitive debate and forensics, and professional associations provide students the skills they need after they graduate. When they find they need more skills or knowledge, we welcome them back with new certificates, credentials, and advanced degrees.

Creating What’s Next

In the Miller School, students actively practice creative thinking and problem solving, using emerging tools and platforms but also preparing for a future when new tools and platforms replace those. Across our programs, we incentivize and reward strategic risk-taking, leadership, and imagination so that we can build the future, not just react to it.

Building our Community of Impact

The future of communication and media will not be built by universities alone. It will be shaped through collaboration among educators, students, alumni, nonprofits, communities, and industry leaders.

Our alumni continue learning, mentoring, hiring, collaborating and returning to the School throughout their careers because education does not end at graduation. By connecting with industry and community, we create opportunities that benefit students today while helping shape the future of the field.

We’re always looking for partners in building the future together.

Whether you’re a prospective student, a community or industry partner, an alumnus or friend, we invite you to learn more about the School. Schedule a visit or drop us a line. We’re ready for you.

Heather Suzanne Woods, Ph.D.

Director, A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication