Convocation
2025 NYU SPS Graduate Convocation Speaker Maxine Mchunguzi’s Transformative NYU SPS Experience
MS in Integrated Marketing and Communications Grad shares how professors fostered growth and prepared her for future career success.
<p><span class="p-body"><i>The article was published on May 2, 2025</i></span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">From classmates to professors, the most significant influence of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxine-mchunguzi/" target="_blank">Maxine Mchunguzi’s</a> NYU SPS graduate school experience has been the incredible NYU SPS community.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">"Graduate school is often portrayed as an isolating experience, yet my reality was the opposite," said Mchunguzi, an <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-integrated-marketing.html">MS in Integrated Marketing and Communications</a> graduate from the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/academic-divisions-and-departments/division-of-programs-in-business.html">NYU SPS Division of Programs in Business</a> and who was selected as the 2025 NYU SPS Graduate Convocation student speaker.</span></p>
The connections we’ve built here are powerful—nurture them, celebrate your roots, and carry forward the belief that no matter how uncertain the road may seem, you truly belong," said Mchunguzi.
<p><span class="p-body">Coming to NYU SPS challenged Mchunguzi to go out of her comfort zone and develop skills beyond her natural strengths. “Through perseverance and the unwavering support of my professors who genuinely cared about my success, I was able to thrive,” she said.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">"Early on, one of my professors led discussions on the emerging importance of effectively using and prompting artificial intelligence (AI) tools—an essential skill in today’s workplace to help enhance our work, not replace it," said Mchunguzi.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">She also discussed several NYU SPS courses that left a lasting impression on her, including the School’s <a href="/content/sps-nyu/experience/how-youll-learn/real-world/real-world-porsche.html">Real World–Porsche</a> course with Professor <a href="/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/1261-joanne-tombrakos.html">Joanne Tombrakos</a>, <a href="/content/sps-nyu/courses/INTG1-GC1015-campaign-ii-planning-management.html">Campaign II: Planning & Management</a> with Professor <a href="/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/20939-timothy-h-reis.html">Timothy Reis</a>, and <a href="/content/sps-nyu/courses/INTG1-GC2305-web-analytics-seo-sem-ppc-email-clickstream.html">Web Analytics: SEO/SEM,PPC, Email & Clickstream</a> with Professor <a href="/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/16687-andre-moraes.html">Andre Moraes</a>. Currently working full-time as Paid Social Media Specialist at Power Digital Marketing, her goal is to continue developing her expertise and skills in paid social media, while advancing into roles with greater responsibility, and making meaningful contributions to innovative and impactful campaigns.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">When asked what advice she would share with her fellow 2025 graduates, she recalled an African proverb: "<i>If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together."</i></span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">She stressed to the Class of 2025 that "none of us made it here alone—lean on your community, stay resilient, and trust that your unique identity is your strength."</span></p>
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