New media communications alumna Amy Dennis is at the forefront of emerging technologies to assist her team at Gradient, a market research firm
Amy Dennis
By Colin Bowyer, Communications Manager - October 10, 2024
A passionate interest in film production and an avid member of her high school A/V club led Amy Dennis, ‘11, to the new media communications (NMC) degree at OSU’s School of Communication. Now, Dennis uses the skills and techniques she learned from the NMC program to excel at Gradient, a market research firm in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
“Truthfully, I didn’t think film editing existed at OSU,” said Dennis. “At the time, there was a path at the College of Liberal Arts where you could select courses and customize your own major. That’s what attracted me to CLA.”
At orientation, it was Dennis’ advisor, Louie Bottaro, who brought her attention to the new NMC degree, until then only a concentration in the liberal studies program. The contemporary, wide-ranging curriculum included classes on video and audio production, 3D animation, broadcast journalism, media management, and more, which encouraged Dennis to broaden her skillset outside of just video editing.
“What I enjoyed most about NMC,” Dennis explained, “was that the broad field of classes allowed me to identify where my interests lie, as well as what I didn’t like. Some of my favorite classes turned out to unexpectedly be the more theoretical ones on film history and media adaptation.”
It was the late-Bill Loges-taught course Diffusion of Innovations that topped Dennis’ list of favorite classes, which explored how media innovations emerged and spread through wider society. Dennis remembered writing her final paper on the adoption of the e-cigarette, then just introduced to the U.S. in the late-2000s.
Dennis continued her academic career with a strong focus in video production, including submitting films to OSU’s student-focused film festival and working as a camera operator and audio engineer at KBVR-TV for all four of her years at OSU.
“I loved experiencing the different facets of live production and interfacing with the bands of Locals Live,” said Dennis. “Being in the studio or control room helped me to understand and appreciate the level of planning, coordination, and resources required for a successful show.”
Dennis’ passion in video production led her to being chosen for an exclusive internship through the NMC program at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas during her senior year, which helped her create a network of peers in the production industry.
After graduation, Dennis pivoted to the project manager-side of multimedia production. At RUN Studios in Seattle and BRIGADE in Western Massachusetts, she led creative teams delivering media services for clients, such as Microsoft and Amazon. Now at Gradient in Amsterdam, Dennis works with research managers and data scientists in an operations management role.
Dennis and Gradient work with “clients trying to answer difficult strategy questions, gain clarity, or confidently make decisions based on insights derived from real data,” Dennis explained. Clients range widely, from those in the commercial sector who want to understand how their product is positioned in the minds of consumers, to those in the social sector trying to measure messaging effectiveness.
Looking back on her NMC era, Dennis remarked how she appreciated the small program, including class sizes, which was rare at such a large university. She also was thankful for all of the opportunities NMC offered to get involved and explore. Though, Dennis affirmed that one of the most important lessons she took away from the NMC program that has helped throughout her career was both an interest in and an ability to stay at the forefront of technological development.
“In the mid-2000s there was such rapid development in production software and social media,” said Dennis, “I learned how important it is to pay attention and stay involved in what technology is emerging and how it’s evolving. In an operations role, my job is to make sure the company is set up for success with access to the right tools, processes in place that are reliable and efficient, and the ability to track metrics for continued improvement. And for that, you need to be mindful of your team’s needs, industry trends, and what tools are available to help you meet them.”