HWS News
24 June 2019 Geng '19 accepted to Johns Hopkins
During her four years at Hobart and William Smith, Xiaonan Geng '19 discovered a passion for the advertising industry and theatre. Since earning her bachelor's degree in media and society with a minor in theater, she has been accepted to the film and media master's program at Johns Hopkins University.
Through the two-year program, Geng will expand her understanding of the film industry, which balances between practice and theory. She says the graduate work will help her shape and refine her points of view, while she creates a body of work as a filmmaker.
"I hope I can master the knowledge of media so that I have many choices for my future work. I also hope that I can consolidate my professional knowledge and lead China's media industry to greater progress in the future," says Geng, a native of Beijing.
Geng credits her Culture of Advertising course with expanding her awareness not only of the history of the industry, but for providing design and Photoshop experience. In addition, she created animation in her Intro to Media and Society class, which she submitted with her master's application.
As a sophomore, Geng wasnt sure what field she wanted to minor in but after taking an acting course she discovered a passion for theatre, and later secured an internship in Chinese theater at the National Center for the Performing Arts.
She credits her professors, especially her advisers Assistant Professor of Media and Society Rebecca Burditt and Associate Professor of Theater Heather May with providing critical guidance. "Their encouragement and help, again and again, allowed me to succeed," she says.