Diana Dominguez
Diana worked in two intern positions directly after graduation: one capitalized on her writing skills and the other aligned with her intended industry of public policy. She got a job as an administrative assistant, which involved some writing and editing-related tasks. She was eventually promoted to government relations (GR) specialist. Some of her primary tasks as a GR specialist include analyzing written and verbal communication and writing strategic messaging such as letters to legislators and social media advocacy campaigns. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Policy and Administration at California State University, Sacramento.
How has your professional writing minor benefited you?
I gained invaluable work experience and professional connections through the internships I completed for the professional writing minor. I found internships in public policy and built writing projects into them to fulfill the writing internship requirement. These experiences later helped me secure intern and job positions and create a professional brand. Developing a writing portfolio also increased my confidence in my writing skills, and it became a useful tool for providing writing samples during interview processes.
The professional writing minor internship advisors were also very impactful to my growth as a young professional. Dr. Lord and Dr. Andersen both provided me with a lot of specific feedback on my internship assignments and showed a lot of enthusiasm and interest in my growth.
Why were you interested in pursuing the professional writing minor?
I pursued the professional writing minor because I have always loved to write and considered myself a writer. Professional writing was perfect for me because I prefer creative and non-fiction writing, and I was really interested in the classes that were offered, such as Introduction to Professional Editing (UWP 112A) and Photojournalism (UWP 111A).
What advice do you have for current UC Davis students considering or currently completing the minor?
I would absolutely recommend pursuing a minor in professional writing, regardless of whether you love writing or you are terrified by it. I think the minor does an excellent job of preparing you for the "real world" by teaching you through experience. I am a "learn by doing" kind of person, and it frustrated me that some classes I took as an undergraduate were purely theory-based and without practical application. UWP courses are not like that at all; you will learn a skill and then go out and practice it through your writing assignments or internships. And if you do not know how to do something? The UWP team will provide the expertise and support you need to learn it.