SJMC Communities: Association for Women in Communications

This is the first installment in the SJMC Communities series which highlights the wide variety of student organizations available to SJMC students. These organizations allow students to pursue their passions, hone their leadership skills, make new friends and explore potential careers all while building their resumes.

The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) is an independent student organization focused on empowering and supporting women as they explore careers in the ever changing field of communications. The organization is welcoming to all female or feminine identifying individuals.

Current AWC President, SJMC senior Sydney Claflin, joined the organization during her first semester on campus and has been a proud member and growing leader since. Formerly a national organization, AWC has since split, expanded and advanced in the hopes of providing new opportunities for members. The club has given Claflin a great deal of experiences, connections and guidance as she navigates college and secures post-grad plans. Claflin explained the various opportunities AWC has to offer members.

What does AWC do?

We usually invite three or four guest speakers a semester. We send out a Google Form to get interest from people in the club so that we’re exploring interests from everyone. We have people in economics and in the B-School, so we want to get a range of speakers that people like. We do a networking trip, usually a local and then an out of state, one per semester, and then three guest speakers every other Wednesday. Additionally, we do a J-School application workshop, volunteer opportunities, fundraising and merchandise. Without the National chapter it’s been sad, but it’s allowed our club to advance and allowed us to do more things like the J-School application, resume and linked in workshops that we weren’t able to do before.

Why is AWC valuable for students?

AWC introduced me to the J-School. It wasn’t even a thought in my mind before and that’s my whole career now. Journalism is something that I would have never even tapped into if it weren’t for AWC. Also the connections I’ve made, I’m still in contact with past speakers that I got to come to AWC as Vice President. I think the connections are super valuable. I’ve met so many friends and been on networking trips to Chicago and in the Madison area, and there’s girls who’ve gotten jobs in Madison through the networking trips. I can’t imagine my college career without AWC, it’s been so instrumental. I use it in every interview, I’ve learned so much, especially from being president, but also the friendships. The connections, the friendship, but also just having this community that you can lean on if you need a job or advice in the future are so valuable.

How does AWC prepare students for future careers?

AWC is what has gotten me an “in” at jobs I’ve interviewed for because there’s just so much I’ve learned from it. There’s so many skills and things that I have gotten from the club that have landed me jobs and skills that I can apply to a real world position.

I learned the event planning side of things, and I’ve learned how to connect with all different types of women. AWC really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Why are you proud to be an AWC member?

We have a long history of strong, empowered women and members, and we’re just so proud to continue that, even without the national affiliation, and remembering the legacy behind all these women. The founding women got their journalism professor to let them have a feature in a newspaper and that’s kind of how AWC advanced. It started from there. AWC is just so empowering. Remembering the history behind it, women today are still fighting for equality in the workplace, and we’re still trying to prove ourselves. Just by being allowed to collaborate in a safe environment with women supporting women is really important. We’re open to everyone, it doesn’t need to be about communication arts. At the end of the day, it’s about being there for women, because women need to lean on each other.

What are the membership requirements?

We try to make it easy for people to get involved and meet the requirements because we don’t want AWC to be this big commitment. It’s supposed to be a fun club where you get to network with professional women. People can join very easily late in the semester.

Attend at least three speaker meetings per semester

Participate in at least one volunteer event per semester

Participate in at least one fundraising event per semester

Participate in at least one social event per semester

Alternative options are available if needed

Membership dues: $35 per semester, $50 for the full school year

Interested in joining AWC? Learn more at the Wisconsin Involvement Network, follow them on Instagram or attend one of their upcoming Wednesday meetings! If you are a leader of a student organization that wants to be featured in SJMCommunities, fill out this form or email Communications Intern Beth Shoop at eshoop@wisc.edu.