11 minute read
CLOSING THE DISTANCE
Anna Brown ('19) at her office in North Mankato.
BY LANCE SCHWARTZ • CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER
Environment key factor in college choice for Brown
Anna (Meyer '19) Brown knew that she wanted to attend a college with a solid journalism or communication program after graduating from a Christian high school in suburban Phoenix, Arizona. She didn't have to look too far to find a solid choice for her higher education aspirations. Brown was accepted to one of the nation's premier journalism schools – The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University located just a short distance from her home. It certainly seemed like a great fit.
But Brown had also heard about Bethany and knew the college was gaining a solid reputation for producing graduates who were working in some of the nation's top broadcast corporations. Sure, Bethany was 1,500 miles northeast and the winters were a bit cooler than Arizona, but with encouragement from family she decided to learn a little more about Bethany's communication program. After visiting the campus and touring the College's production and broadcast studio—she was impressed. While her options were miles apart, both physically and in the size of the programs, each provided what Brown was searching for in her college experience (with a few notable exceptions). "On paper, ASU seemed like the more fitting choice: an amazing studio, wide variety and quantity of highend media and equipment, a prestigious journalism reputation, it was close to home and my family, and was the cheaper financial option. However, it lacked some of the most important things on my checklist for a college education, said Brown."
Brown attended Arizona Lutheran Academy for high school, and that experience played a role in shaping her college decision. For Brown, Bethany stood out as a place where she could be comfortable in her values while receiving much of the same experiences she'd get at a larger school. She chose Bethany. "What ultimately solidified my interest in Bethany was the small, Christian atmosphere. Coming from a Christian high school, I knew the significance of a Christian environment… it was important to me to prioritize that."
An uncomfortable feeling of ease
Brown (above) played the part of Helen in the Bethany theatre production of The Women of Troy, and also took part in the College Choir (below).
Photo by Benji Inniger
Photo by David Norris
Bethany is a college fully committed to mentoring students in a close, personal setting. Brown understood the value of small class sizes, access to facilities, and the personal attention students receive from faculty at Bethany. "Bethany would be able to provide me with one-onone attention, and professors who actually cared about me as a person and what my future would look like. I knew that the things I'd be involved in at Bethany my freshman year—I'd be lucky to even experience in my junior or senior year at the public university with hundreds of students in my classes."
And while the proximity to friends and family in Arizona might have been a nice enticement, both the intrinsic and the intangible opportunities at Bethany were clearly evident to Brown. The opportunity to grow as an individual, away from home, and to train for a career at a place that not only felt "right," but also not too comfortable fosters a person's own drive and initiative. Brown knew that her will would be tested a bit more in an unfamiliar environment. "[Attending Bethany] would teach me what I needed to know for my future in journalism and mass media from a Christian perspective. Being far away would also provide me with more responsibilities and independence, and give me a chance to meet new people and try new things. It was just familiar enough for me to feel comfortable, but still out of my element."
The Bethany experience
Brown immersed herself in the Bethany community while taking full advantage of so much the College had to offer. She especially embraced the opportunity to be totally involved with campus activities and experiences. Yes, the communication program offered all of what she was hoping for and more, but it was the experiences beyond the classroom that proved to be very important to her while providing some of the warmest memories of her time on campus. "Theatre has always been a passion of mine, and so I chose to pursue a theatre minor to continue in those interests and to always have an excuse to be in the Theatre Department! I was lucky enough to be in a few shows, and also participated in Concert Choir and went on two choir tours. Being a part of these casts and groups made for some of my fondest memories, and I met so many wonderful people."
- ANNA BROWN
Still frames from BLC Newsbreak segments.
Still frames from BLC Newsbreak segments.
Brown also took on campus leadership roles at Bethany including serving as a Resident Assistant in Edgewood Place residence hall. She worked as a caller for the Bethany Phone-A-Thon, served as the voice of the BLC campus for recorded Bethany Newsbreaks as well as being the featured tour guide for an online BLC campus tour video. In her spare time, she also participated on intramural teams. "I loved that I was able to be a part of so many different things on campus because they allowed me to create new friendships and experiences. Just another perk of going to a small college! The education I received was obviously most important, but I think it was everything else outside of class that made my time at Bethany so wonderful." "I was also blessed to find my amazing husband at Bethany (Broderick Brown '18). We are both so grateful Bethany brought us together."
Putting education to practice
Internships are a key factor to success after college—often leading to job offers for graduates. Among the unique opportunities beyond the classroom for Brown was an internship in television news. It was an opportunity that she'd hoped for, and it helped to shape her future in a way that she couldn't have imagined. "I can't stress enough how important my internship experiences were to my education. For three-and-a-half years at Bethany, I had my mind set on a single plan: get a communication degree, get an internship at a TV news station with the hope of landing a job at that station, and advance from there."
But before an opportunity with a television news setting developed, Brown was able to experience the communication field from the role of a public relations professional. It was an experience she didn't anticipate, but it did help her to understand her options while achieving her goal of becoming a professional communicator.
"The summer after my junior year, I applied for a PR internship at the City of North Mankato. I interviewed, and got the job, but I thought, 'this will be a fun and interesting summer job but it won't really be what I want to do.' After a successful summer, the City offered to extend [the internship], and I agreed."
The job with the City was going quite well for Brown when the break she'd been hoping for, a television station internship, was offered to her. The news internship provided Brown with the opportunity to learn more about journalism from a reporter's perspective—she was also able to anchor a few newscasts. The lessons she learned were uniquely important to her, and they were considerably different than what she anticipated. It was an opportunity she was grateful for.
Without elaborating Brown said, "[The TV news internship] showed me firsthand what a reporter and news anchor job would look like, and it opened my eyes to see that was not what I wanted to do, at least for now."
Brown's career focus had changed because through these internships she was able to learn even more about her interests from two uniquely different work experiences. "The internship at the City of North Mankato exceeded my expectations and proved to be more enjoyable than the news station internship. If I had never taken these two internships, I never would've gotten the job I have now. I might've gone into a field I didn't want."
Anna Brown prepared to record a North Mankato Community Update video in November 2020 with City Administrator John Harrenstein (left), and Mayor Mark Dehen (center).
Photo by David Norris
Professional life
Brown was offered a full-time position as North Mankato's public information officer upon her graduation from Bethany. She enjoys her work, and is taking each day with an open mind to the future. "This PR position for the City is the opportunity God brought into my life around the time I was searching for my post-graduate role, and so I took it! While I do enjoy many aspects of it, I wouldn't say I am sold on being solely PR for the rest of my professional life. I would be open to other roles in communication, perhaps going back to journalism, in the future."
Brown is a self-described lifelong learner, and she isn't ruling out a return to the classroom as well. "I am interested in going back to school because I enjoy learning and believe a master's degree will open doors for me. There are some unanswered questions, but I do know God has it already figured out and I trust his plan for my life."
Brown's role with North Mankato is diverse and demanding, and a great fit for someone who was involved in so many ways during her years on the Bethany campus.
Brown, in her role, is essentially everything public relations for the City. She runs social media accounts, writes press releases and public service announcements, works with news
media, sends emergency notifications, prepares a weekly City e-newsletter, produces videos, takes photos, and creates graphic designs. She assists the city clerk with elections, and serves as administrative assistant to the city administrator. Brown even helps the team that organizes and runs the North Mankato Farmers' Market.
While the job is demanding, it's an opportunity Brown is grateful for. "I love my job! I've learned so much about how the city works. I've been able to create the communication and public relations department. It's been amazing to be able to expand our communication channels and build our department from the ground up."
Brown's job can, at times, be a high-pressure calling. She needs to react on a moment's notice when emergency situations arise. The information she creates takes serious thought because what she produces is often critically important to the city's 15,000 residents. "I'm upholding the reputation of the City. I don't take that responsibility lightly!"
Intangibles matter
Brown's story really exemplifies how a Bethany education can be an advantage for students. The myriad experiences at a small college prepared her to be able to think through pressure situations efficiently and to communicate precisely. She explained why Bethany was a great fit and exceeded her expectations. "The liberal arts education I received gave me knowledge in so many areas that I would have not sought out on my own. I have a more rounded perspective as a result. I received hands-on experience in my media classes, and I had the opportunity to practice and apply what I was learning through projects."
Bethany's Production Studio Manager Greg Vandermause discussed a BLC Newsbreak with Brown in 2017.
Photo by David Norris
Brown also noted especially the mentorship she received from Bethany's Studio Manager Greg Vandermause as an important factor in her professional growth. "I knew going into Bethany that there were great people, professors, staff there… but I didn't really expect what is called the 'Bethany family.' Both the relationships I made with my friends and the professors are what I value most. One relationship that especially comes to mind is with my mentor from Bethany, Greg Vandermause. I met Greg while on my tour at Bethany, and from that point I knew he was a professional and had the experience that I could trust. He was committed to helping me succeed. He helped open doors for me with internships, he helped me develop projects, and always encouraged me from a Christian perspective. I credit a lot of what I know and where I am to Greg, and I can't thank him enough for all that he's done for me."
That advice and encouragement from a Christian perspective are the elements of a Bethany education that could be perceived as the intangibles. And while they are not always measurable in a worldly perspective, they are what sets Bethany apart.
Anna Brown's story is a great example for current and future Bethany students, and her career is off to a good start because she took the time to be very involved at Bethany. Being an active student is important, and a good marker for future successes. She offered some advice to students about how to use the time you have on campus to foster a solid career path. "Get involved! Just about everything I was a part of outside of class really helped make the most out of my college experience. Invest in relationships with your professors and mentors, take different classes, do the internship, go to chapel, be in clubs, theatre, intramural sports, athletics, choirs, or groups because you never know what you might enjoy or what friends you'll make. You really do get out of your college experience what you put into it. "I am just so thankful God brought me to Bethany. He knew it was where I needed to be and what was best for my life. It was quite an adjustment to move to Minnesota. As an 18-year-old it was scary to leave my home in Arizona, everyone and everything I knew, but God has brought me so many blessings because of it."
Anna with husband Broderick ('18). The couple was married in July 2020.
Submitted photo
