Photo: Terrell M. Green
As an alumnus of the online MS in Digital Media Management program, Terrell M. Green has positioned himself as a professional at the intersection between project management and digital media.
In his current role as a Project Manager at a remote full-service global advertising agency, Terrell applies the skills acquired during his time in the MSDMM program to spot trends, create personalized customer journeys, and provide collaborative feedback that supports innovation for clients.
Below, Terrell reflects on his experience in the program, delves into his interests in digital media, and shares his future career aspirations.
Walk us through your academic and professional background and how digital media integrates itself into your career journey.
I received my BA in Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College in New York. I worked for 12 years in community program development for youth and families in the public health and arts education non-profit sector. I now work in project management for a remote full-service global ad agency. As the world deepens its dependency on digital media, I’ve been able to use my knowledge to show organizations the benefits of building digital teams and the advantages of integrating AI into workflows.
What was your goal when choosing to pursue a graduate degree in digital media?
I initially thought this program was a digital marketing program, but in my first class when I started to read about theories on the internet, theories on the impact of remote work, and arguments on digital regulation, I knew I had signed up for something greater. USC not only exceeded my expectations, but they expanded my expectations!
Explain how a graduate degree in digital media management plays a role in your current position.
My degree has equipped me with practical problem-solving skills that are human centered. Often when working remotely or in a field where tech is the star, we as people can take a back seat. But my time in the DMM program taught me that discovering and developing the skills of the person behind the tech is just as important as developing the features of tech—it may even enhance the product!
What elements of digital media are you most passionate about?
I love the data that digital media is constantly generating; if collected, observed, and maintained equitably and kept current, organizations have powerful tools to connect and share with stakeholders.
What was your experience as an online student at USC Annenberg?
I will caveat and say I live in Los Angeles and I urge any remote student who lives near campus to visit campus and engage in person if possible. Due to the program being about digital media management, I felt it befitting to be remote as most of my professional DMM opportunities have been remote. Additionally, being remote afforded the rich opportunity to learn and collaborate with peers from all over the world, which is another unique key feature of working professionally in the digital media industry.
Photo: Terrell M. Green
How do you apply the knowledge you’ve gained in the DMM program to your current role?
The majority of my coworkers and the team I lead are in India and Mexico, and being in the DMM program expanded my idea of what DEIA meant in the workplace. In two different leadership courses (one with Prof. Jeffrey Thompson and the other with Prof. Holly Zhang) we discussed the notion of DEIA expanding to time zones and how it’s important to lead with that level of inclusivity.
In my current position, I’ve had to truly understand new cultural working norms, build agendas that accommodate 2 global and 3 domestic time zones, and work with stakeholders to transcribe notes so that many different language speakers could find it accessible.
With experience in the education sector, how would you say digital media can be an important tool for this industry?
Digital media, AI, and machine learning can be used as equalizing tools in the education industry. I’ve found in my experience in public education that communication was one of our biggest hurdles; within that lies the national epidemic of illiteracy. With digital media tools, students can be empowered to independently engage with language. Additionally, youth living with neurodivergence that affects social or verbal communication skills may find their voices via digital media tools.
Lastly, for years different design elements (Photoshop, Logic, etc.) have been almost gatekept by those who could afford to learn it. Now, with so many digital media developments there are multiple ways to learn new skills!
As an Ambassador for the MSDMM program, what advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in digital media management?
DO IT, it is the very near future! But more importantly, learn design and data, at least well enough that you can offer feedback and ideas in the language of design or data.
With an MSDMM in hand, what are your future career goals?
I would love to open a Media Arts and Technology Charter High School (MATCH), aiming to develop future influencers (marketers), designers, and data scientists of tomorrow, while working to eradicate the digital divide.
Learn more about the MS in Digital Media Management program.