Dawn Booker G’13

What is your most enduring memory of your time at AUP?

I came to AUP because I knew I wanted to have a global experience, obtaining my master’s at a university with faculty, staff and students from all over the world. When I graduated, my classmates selected me to represent graduate students as a speaker at AUP’s 50th anniversary commencement ceremony. I felt so honored and grateful to have the opportunity to share publicly the transformative experience I’d had at AUP. Standing on the stage at Théâtre du Châtelet was a moment I will never forget.

How did AUP impact your life?

My experience at AUP transformed my life and career in so many ways. I attended AUP as an older student; I never imagined how impactful my time there would be for me. Prior to attending AUP, I was a communications and marketing professional, also serving as an adjunct journalism professor. After graduating, I had expected to come back to the US and continue my career; however, after receiving the Slosberg Grant to conduct research on NGO communications in South Africa, my approach to work was forever changed. Upon my return home, I continued to conduct research on representation in communications, collaborative research and cultural tourism.