Hello!
My name is Kate Hughes and I am an undergraduate junior studying Intercultural Communication at SIU-Carbondale. I grew up in the small farm town of Freeburg, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis.
When I first came to Carbondale, I had no idea what career to pursue. After taking my first intercultural communication class, I knew the field was exactly what I had been looking for. I felt as if it were calling me. I got to meet people that were drastically different from me, learn about cultures I didn’t even know exist, and best of all learn how to really communicate with people from all over the world. After finding my niche, I realized that I wanted my specialty to be intercultural training. This past summer, I attended the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication (SIIC) and found so many like-minded people that shared my passion and energy for Intercultural Communication. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity at such a young age.
Having this two-semester long internship opportunity is incredibly helpful in reaching my career goals. Not only do I get to work with people that have already shaped me as a professional, but I also get to work with a great association—the UNA. Being a part of the UNA will undeniably give me opportunities to meet even more people that share my passions and provide me with a strong network that will shape me career wise and personally. I am incredibly excited to be a part of the UNA of Southern Illinois, and serving as the 2017-2018 intern!
Thank you,
Kate L. Hughes