For Gehrke, a speech communication senior, the road to her dream job aboard Carnival Cruises was anything but conventional
Kennedy Gehrke
By Taylor Pedersen, CLA Student Writer - December 11, 2025
Originally from Wisconsin, Kennedy Gehrke’s academic and professional journey was filled with pivots, unplanned detours, and a determination to make the most of every twist along the way. This winter, Gehrke will travel the globe with Carnival Cruises—a culmination of adaptability and a passion for human connection.
Initially, as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Gehrke was preparing for a nine-month study abroad program in England, a goal she had pursued since high school. “I applied my senior year of high school, and then again my freshman and sophomore year of college,” she recalled. But when COVID-19 hit, her plans and motivation came crashing down. “The program got canceled right after I dropped my classes. I sold my car, moved back in with my parents, and suddenly had nothing.”
Faced with the abrupt loss of her dreams abroad, Gehrke made a snap decision that would set her life on a new course. “I bought a car off the side of the street and just booked it to Oregon,” she said, laughing at the audacity of the move. Although returning to school wasn’t part of Gehrke’s plan, her new roommate, who was studying speech communication, opened the door to a new academic passion. Encouraged by her roommate’s suggestion, Gehrke reached out to OSU’s TRIO program, which supports first-generation and low-income students. She found a supportive community that helped her transition back into college life.
Through her studies, Gehrke developed an interest in cultural communication—an area that would prove invaluable for her future career. “Speech communication has helped me understand people’s feelings and perceptions better,” she explained. “It’s made me more confident in myself and how I communicate, especially in diverse environments.”
Key figures at OSU also played pivotal roles in Gehrke’s journey. Professors like Kristen Herring, known for her playful teaching style, and Mark Porrovecchio, who guided her internship process, left lasting impressions. “Both are so different, but they’ve been incredibly impactful,” she reflected.
While in the School of Communication, Gehrke began working for the College of Liberal Arts as social media content creator, jumpstarting CLA’s TikTok channel into the most followed OSU-related TikTok account today.
This academic preparation came full circle during her internship with Carnival Cruises, where she worked alongside a diverse team. “There were only seven other Americans out of 1,500 crew members. Learning firsthand about different cultural norms and traditions was incredible,” she said. Conversations with colleagues from around the world became a highlight of her experience, expanding her global perspective and forging lifelong friendships.
Reflecting on her journey, Gehrke advises students facing disruptions to “roll with the punches.” Her own path—from dropping out of school to securing a highly competitive internship with Carnival Cruises—taught her the value of adaptability and perseverance. “When my study abroad got canceled, I thought I’d never get to travel the way I wanted to. Now, I get to travel the world for months at a time. It’s even better than I could’ve imagined.”
Now, as she prepares for her next chapter, Gehrke is excited about the challenges and adventures ahead. Whether it’s navigating cultural nuances or speaking to thousands of cruise guests, she’s ready to carry the lessons of resilience and communication forward. “I’ve become more adaptable and more understanding of myself and others,” she said. “And I’ve learned that the most unexpected paths often lead to the most rewarding destinations.”