Shaping the Next Generation of Industry Leaders, One Class at a Time
At the University of Alabama, the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) is more than a collection of classrooms and lecture halls; it’s a launchpad for dreams. Within its walls, ambition meets preparation, and passion is sculpted into purpose. Professors don’t just lecture; they mentor, nurture and ignite a fire within their students. Projects don’t just earn grades; they sharpen skills, instill resilience and mirror the challenges of the real world.
For former students like Alaina Sharp, a Journalism and Creative Media (JCM) graduate, knows this firsthand. She didn’t set out knowing she would one day work in production management in Los Angeles, navigating red carpets and reality TV sets. She started her college career studying athletic training before discovering that while she had a passion for sports, the science aspect did not appeal to her as much as she hoped. Sharp pivoted to communications and film, specifically production management, after taking a couple of communications classes.
When Alaina switched to her new major, she quickly realized the coursework wasn’t just academic; it was a mirror of the career she would eventually pursue.
I remember doing our little binder in one of my classes with scene breakdowns and schedules. That’s literally what I do to this day. It was the first time I thought, this could be my future.
C&IS teaches more than communication theories; it fosters adaptability, confidence and creativity. Alaina remembers the “organized chaos” of student projects, where she learned how to raise money, manage teams and produce results under pressure. Those skills transferred well into the entertainment industry, where she found herself working on shows like the People’s Choice Awards, the Golden Globes and eventually “The Bachelor” franchise.
“JCM felt intimate. It was so fun to be part of a smaller knit community and making the most of your talents,” recounted Sharp. “What mattered was taking what you learn, running with it, and showing the world what you can do.”
The leap from Tuscaloosa to Los Angeles wasn’t easy, but it was possible because of the foundation she built at UA. It was on a UA-related Facebook page where she found her first job after graduating in 2018.
But Alaina’s story also carries a reminder that success doesn’t happen overnight. After she graduated in 2018, her professional story started with interning with The Rick and Bubba Show, a comedy radio show based in Birmingham, Alabama. After a year of work and saving money, she moved to Santa Clarita, California with one of her sorority sisters. It took that leap of faith built on the experience she gained from UA to push her career forward.
Her journey was shaped by late nights on student projects, professors who challenged her to think harder, and classmates who became collaborators and lifelong friends.
Alaina credits much of her growth to those who pushed her beyond what she thought possible. “They didn’t just teach us theories; they gave us tools we could carry anywhere,” she says. “Every time I’m on a set solving problems, I can trace that confidence back to my time in Tuscaloosa.”
Alaina’s advice to current students is simple but profound: get involved, network, and don’t be afraid to leap. Whether through student-led media organizations, internships or alumni networks, the opportunities are there for those willing to reach them, and the school stands ready to support students every step of the way.
Perhaps the hallmark of C&IS is the ability to take students with raw ambition and give them both the confidence and competence to shape that ambition into a career. For Alaina, it meant chasing the bright lights of Los Angeles and finding that she was more than prepared to shine.
Alaina’s journey is just one example of how C&IS equips its students to transform reality. By blending rigorous academics with experience, the college ensures its graduates are ready not only to enter the workforce, but to excel in it.
