Our Story

Years ago at an SOC retreat, we discussed the idea of launching more experiential opportunities for our students by brainstorming on a giant Post-it ®. We wanted to accomplish a few things including:

Provide opportunities to students for hands-on learning while also giving them course credit and compensation
Help to diversify the communications industry
Upend the way people think about problems by using a design thinking approach
Break down the silos and combine disciplines within SOC to see how storytelling can change the world
Serve as a vehicle for public purpose causes
Raise the profile of the school

With the support of American University’s School of Communication and a $500,000 Change Can't Wait campaign gift from AU Board of Trustees member and alumnus, Michael Kempner, CEO, MikeWorldWide (MWW), we are so excited to launch SOC3.

brainstorming drawings from the first meeting

As the only school in Washington that brings journalism, film, public relations, and communication studies together, American University School of Communication is uniquely suited to serve as the home of SOC3. By uniting disciplines, prioritizing diversity, focusing on content creation and channel distribution to reach audiences, all with a Gen Z-centric approach, SOC3 is on the forefront of how the communication industry will look in the decade to come. Our signature “Storytelling for Changemakers” curriculum-based experience brings all of these elements together to tackle old problems with fresh, new and innovative solutions.