A longtime partnership between Student Media and Mason LIFE allows young adults with disabilities to gain professional experience.
By Tiffany Boggs
For more than 10 years, Student Media has hosted Mason LIFE interns as they prepare for post-graduation careers, pairing them with student mentors who help them develop valuable skills that transcend what they learn in the classroom. Kathryn Mangus, director of Student Media, recalls the impact of helping an early Mason LIFE intern get a press pass to photograph an event at EagleBank Arena: “It was a defining moment for me because I saw how much it meant for the intern to be treated like a professional and know that their contributions were valued.”
The Mason Learning into Future Environments (LIFE) Program is an innovative post-secondary program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who desire a university experience in a supportive academic environment that helps them develop essential workplace competencies. It is run through the university’s College of Education and Human Development. “Student Media’s partnership with Mason LIFE is a perfect example of University Life’s vision that every student succeeds, as the two units collaborate to support and empower students to create their own futures at Mason and beyond,” Mangus noted.
“The best part of the Mason LIFE–Student Media partnership is seeing our students pursue their passions in meaningful internships where they are valued as emerging professionals,” said Melissa Chabot, employment and community involvement coordinator for Mason LIFE.
A Positive Partnership
According to Ely Staggs, a sophomore mechanical engineering major who worked with senior Mason LIFE intern James Hamilton to help distribute publications across campus and inventory promotional items, “[serving as mentor] taught me a lot about what makes a good leader and how to communicate. Encouragement and getting to know someone is important because everyone has something to offer in the workplace and in life.”
Hamilton, a creative and resourceful intern, also hosted episodes of Mason Cable Network’s “What’s Up, Mason?” television show, interviewing students on camera about everything from the 2024 election to an impromptu snowball fight in President’s Park. “I love working at Student Media. It’s my favorite work site!” he said.
Senior sport management major Mitchell Richtmyre, who filmed Hamilton’s video segments and coached him on microphone etiquette and on-air presentation skills, noted his improvement throughout the semester as a producer and interviewer. “It was great to see James’ ability to express himself and open his creative eyes.”
Ava Jack, who is pursuing a master’s in health communication, mentored Emmett Fox, a senior Mason LIFE intern who has hosted “Good Times with Big E” on WGMU Radio since fall 2024. According to Jack, Fox is a sports fanatic and the two prepared for weekly on-air shows by discussing comedy, music trivia, and their shared love for the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders.
Looking back on his DJ experience, Fox said, “I really love doing the work and have worked with some terrific mentors. My favorite activity is actually going on air. It’s exciting and it feels great. I’m always really happy to be on air…totally in the moment.”
Making up a joke on the spot about anything with no context to make his listeners laugh was one of Fox’s unique talents that amazed Jack and taught her not to underestimate her mentee. “Don’t think of them any less than someone not part of Mason LIFE because they’re not, and at times, they exceed your expectations because of how willing they are to just participate in anything and how excited they are,” she said.
Current Student Media employee Melissa Gurman brings a unique perspective to the partnership as a Mason LIFE graduate who now mentors students from her former program. “I’ve had the pleasure to work with several Mason LIFE interns and found them to be smart, hardworking, and motivated, because like me, they want to learn job skills and gain experience.”
Tiffany Boggs contributed to Student Media as an undergraduate, writing stories for University Life, and joined the Student Media team as an office assistant after graduating with her degree in communication.