The Intersection of Speech Communication and the Marine Corps

Graduate Sam Hang applies her degree in speech communication to her identity as a Marine

By Jaycee Kalama

Sam Hang is a 2022 Oregon State University graduate and recipient of an Outstanding Senior award in the School of Communication. Having graduated with a degree in speech communication, Hang applies what she has learned from her major to her everyday life, including her identity as a Marine.

Hang has served in the Marines for several years, and was recently commissioned to be an officer in the Marine Corps.

“A Marine sergeant major once said to me, ‘communication is one of the hardest things humans learn to do—effective communication is even harder,’” Hang said.

As a member of OSU’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, Hang did a lot of service work, including mentoring women in ROTC at Oregon State.

“These students are going to be future Navy and Marine Corps officers,” Hang said. “To be able to play a role in shaping the future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps, I think that was a lot to take away from the NROTC.”

Hang chose speech communication because she felt it was something that she could use as more than just a technical skill, but rather as a practical skill that she will need and use throughout her life, especially in her career.

“I feel like I’ve learned a great deal here as a speech communication student at Oregon State,” Hang said. “I feel better prepared as an effective communicator and leader of my fellow Marines.”