Student Life
A Real Live Wire
Exemplifying today's computer-savvy generation, senior communications major Matt Robertson has been proficient with computer software and website programming since junior high school. After working on a website project in eighth grade that won first prize in a national contest, Robertson delved into the intricacies of computer design software in high school. He entered Penn State Altoona and quickly became entrenched in its Communications degree program. Four years later, he has helped to launch LiveWire, the program's multimedia, on-line publication, is involved in the start up of a college radio station, and believes that his future is on the right track.
Despite his background in computers, Robertson had long entertained thoughts of becoming a lawyer. With a family connection to the profession, it seemed to make sense to Robertson. That is, until his first semester, when he took a communications class with Mary Lou Nemanic, assistant professor of communications, and then one with her husband Doug, part-time lecturer in communications.
"Mary Lou and Doug—you can tell they actually care. They are good teachers and they are good people," states Robertson. Inspired by the faculty and what he terms the 'cutting edge' Communications program at Altoona, Robertson changed his career goals and has never looked back.
~ Matt Robertson
Mary Lou quickly recognized Robertson's talent and approached him in his freshman year about helping to start LiveWire as its co-editor. States Mary Lou, "Matt is very bright, is an excellent problem solver, and he's a pleasure to have as a student. Matt learns software extremely quickly and is a great technical troubleshooter."
Serving as its initial co-editor, Robertson has been forced to scale back on his LiveWire responsibilities this year. "I work two jobs, maintain a full class load, and work on LiveWire. It got to be too much so I took a little bit of a demotion last fall. I know that I'll be leaving soon and that the best thing for me and for LiveWire would be to let other people become more involved who have the time to devote to it."
But don't let his words fool you. Robertson has kept quite busy this year helping to start up internet radio for Penn State Altoona. Robertson, with others in the program, are initially working on 'podcasting'—an abbreviated version of web radio—and hopes to launch LiveWire Radio before his December 2006 graduation.
Reflecting on his Penn State Altoona career, Robertson notes that he will be a well-rounded graduate—"perhaps a little too well-rounded. The communications program is so great because you can go into any field, anywhere, and get as broad an education as you want. What I'm dealing with right now is that I have so much knowledge and experience in so many fields, I'm just not sure where I want to go. But don't get me wrong—it's great!"
Robertson does recognize one field in which he has interest—teaching at Penn State Altoona. As a teaching assistant for a communications class, Robertson found helping others to learn to be very gratifying. "Really, I love it here. In a perfect world, I would think of getting a master's and coming back here to teach. I really like what the college is doing and where the program is going. There are big things on the horizon. I'd love to be a part of it."