By Bill Riccetti
When NaTasha Rollerson-Gordon was an advertising and public relations major in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, she embraced her African-American heritage while preparing for her professional future.
She shared those experiences with CoJMC students at a recent multicultural homecoming event in which alumnae spoke to students about their experiences. Rollerson-Gordon said that the college helped her navigate her current job as an account supervisor at an ad agency in Dallas.
“When I walk into a room at my job there is only me; there is no one else that looks like me, there aren’t any women and there aren’t that many diverse people in general,” Rollerson-Gordon said. “Going to school here helped me move through those circles flawlessly because it gave me the skills to communicate with all those types of people.”
A 2011 graduate, Rollerson-Gordon currently works for Martin Retail Group, where she manages the south-central region of the Cadillac account.
“It’s a different kind of advertising then we really learn about in J-school,” Rollerson-Gordon said. “In J-school, we kind of focus on national advertising campaigns and I’m more at a regional level.”
Working for different regions means that Rollerson-Gordon needs to implement certain tactics for specific places. Crediting her internships and extra-circular activities, Rollerson-Gordon built a resume that was filled with skills in photography, writing and graphic design, all of which she uses today.
“In the unique position I am in, where I get to wear all those hats, I have all those skills to pull out of my back pocket,” Rollerson-Gordon said. “It gives me leverage when so many of my peers have one area of focus and I have many.”
Rollerson-Gordon, who grew up in North Omaha, embraced her heritage but she said that as an African-American woman on a predominately white campus she felt pressure when the topics involved diversity.
“If we were talking about a subject that involved diversity you kind of became the voice of your class,” Rollerson-Gordon said. “Even if you had no recollection or experience with the subject, you were still expected to.”
She credits Interim Dean Amy Struthers as being a strong mentor for her.
“She was always encouraging to me to try different things and do different things. I don’t think I would be where I am without her,” Rollerson-Gordon said.
