In this continuing series, graduating seniors write a letter to the Oglethorpe professor who impacted them the most. Watch as the chosen professor reads a letter from their student.

Valeri Cruz ’23 will graduate this May with a degree in communication studies. As a student, she was involved in a number of organizations across campus. She was a member of Oglethorpe’s chapter of PRSSA and later served on the executive board, a member of the student-led PR firm the Weltner Consulting Agency, a Pegasus Creative student intern in Oglethorpe’s Marketing and Communications department and a communications intern for the Alumni Relations department.

Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Kate Keib served as Cruz’s mentor throughout her academic career at Oglethorpe. Cruz is part of the graduating class of students most impacted by the pandemic; the Class of 2023 was remote during the end of their freshman year and their sophomore year. Cruz reflects gratefully on the guidance provided by Dr. Keib, who helped her determine her career path and land internships.

“As a student that is first-gen, it was a little difficult to find those internship opportunities, because I didn’t really know where to start, and Dr. Keib was a huge help in that,” says Cruz. “She’s always just been there for me to give me professional career advice and just guide me as I get ready to graduate.”