MA in Communication

Jane Holloman, 2026

I chose George Mason because of the excellent faculty in the Department of Communication and the exciting research they are doing. I also was drawn in by the incredible research being done by the Center for Climate Change Communication (Mason 4C).

I earned my master's degree in communication degree with a focus on environment, science, and risk communication. My bachelor's degree is in environmental studies, and I have always wanted to work in conservation. I am passionate about communicating with people about why protecting the natural environment is important and how it affects their lives.

My capstone project is a media content analysis study on climate change skepticism/denial discourse on Reddit. My research questions focus on themes present in posts, the kinds of subreddits posts expressing climate skepticism can be found in, and which kinds of posts get the most engagement.

Most impactful course: Persuasion Theory. Although there were many classes outside of the department that I was interested in and wished I had the time to take. 

Favorite George Mason memory: Working with the team in the Communication Center has been overall the best part of my experience. We have a lot of fun and make a tangible impact helping students with public speaking skills, which feels really special.

Advice for future George Mason graduate students: Schedule time for yourself! You'll be the most productive if you make time to sleep, exercise, eat, and spend time with your friends and family. You don't always need to be working. 

Future plans: This summer I am traveling to the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia to get scuba dive certified with my partner. After that, hopefully getting a job at a conservation nonprofit in the D.C. area.