Alumni Profile: Meredith Henry '03
Meredith Henry credits the liberal arts education at Alma with helping her focus her love for communication.
“I loved to write and knew I wanted to do something communication and business-related,” the 2003 alumnus says. “Liberal arts communication was the perfect fit to explore exactly which avenue of communication I wanted to pursue. Looking back on it, my interests evolved naturally throughout my class work and internship experience.”
Henry, an internal communication consultant at CRA, Inc. in Philadelphia, Penn., says she could not have succeeded without the framework of the liberal arts in her communication studies.
“It’s that background and mindset that has put me at an advantage to understand situations and help define context in business,” she says. “More than anything, Alma teaches you how to think—think critically and think big. It’s that frame, theory, and critical thinking that has helped me affect change inside organizations. I believe that liberal arts philosophy and the communication faculty at Alma push students to ask the questions that help us discover what we really feel passionate about.”
Henry says she was attracted to Alma by the commitment of excellence displayed by faculty, students and staff – a commitment that was obvious to her from the first visit.
“It’s clear that Alma sets high standards for its programs and focuses around the student experience,” she says. “I sensed that the moment I walked on the campus and talked to just a few students, professors, and coaches. I knew I wanted to be in that environment that pushed me and opened doors to the opportunities I wanted.”
The communication major allowed Henry to open those doors through the encouragement and guidance of professors and the knowledge she gained in her classes.
“A communication degree from Alma opens the door to endless possibilities and industries,” she says. “Regardless which industry or profession you pursue, it’s the understanding of message meaning and relationships that puts you at a strong advantage in the business world.”
While at Alma, she was involved in various activities, including the Women’s Swim Team, Alma Symphony Orchestra and Gamma Phi Beta (a social sorority). She still enjoys swimming, mostly through coaching, and music.
