May 12, 2003

Journalism Major Explores Policy
Interests In Her Writing
By Sherry Fisher

Mydria Clark recalls the day she knew she wanted to come to UConn.

"It was spring and I was in the South Campus dining room looking out the window at the beautiful view," she says. "I fell in love with the campus." A high school senior at the time, she was on campus for an Honors Open House.

Mydria Clark Photo by Peter Morenus

Clark, who is in the Honors Program, is a Day of Pride student. She is majoring in journalism.

"The faculty in the journalism department have been wonderful," she says. "It's a small department and I know all the professors and they know me. They understand your interests and tell you about certain opportunities."

Clark started out as an English major, switched to communications, and decided to major in journalism She also has taken many courses in sociology, almost enough to make it a second major.

She says her advisor, Maureen Croteau, professor of journalism and department head, has been her mentor. "She's been great," Clark says. "I was interested in journalism and sociology and wasn't sure what to do. Professor Croteau helped me realize I could do both. I could accomplish my sociology goals through my writing."

Clark, who is interested in women's issues, education, and diversity, says her UConn education has helped her decide what she wants to do in the future. A course on "Black Feminist Politics" taught by Evelyn Simien, an assistant professor of political science, also has influenced her.

"It is subject matter that's not normally taught," she says. "I've always been interested in women's issues, but now I'm even more focused on things I want to write about and policies I want to change."

Clark, who is originally from Hartford, went to high school in South Windsor as part of a voluntary busing program called Project Concern.

"I want to see more integration in the schools," says Clark, whose "biggest goal is to end racism. I don't know if it's possible, but I want to inspire people to make change."

Clark was a writer for the Daily Campus. During the summers, she honed her writing skills as an intern at the Phoenix insurance firm in Hartford, The Hartford Courant, and the Seattle Times in Washington.

She will attend graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley.