Meet the New Manager of Academic Programs Hannah Jaber

By Nusrah Azeez and Christine Souaiden

For this week’s Spotlight, we had the opportunity to sit down with Hannah Jaber, the new Manager for Academic Programs for the UMass Communication department. Hannah is from West Springfield, she is a graduate from Westfield State University with a degree in Communication. As a Program  Manager, her role consists of taking care of administrative work regarding class schedules, managing the Communication department’s website, and promoting the department’s social media pages. When we sat down for the interview, we were curious to learn more about Hannah’s journey to becoming a part of the Communication department.

What are your experiences (work or other) before UMass?

While I was an undergraduate, I was a Peer Advisor and an Intern in the Communication department of my school. I also worked on the website, social media, and graphic design for my family’s business. 

Why did you decide to work at UMass?

I’ve always liked the idea of working in a school system. My sister went to UMass so I have had the opportunity to visit a couple of times and I love the UMass environment. Coming to work here was an easy choice for me.

How are you settling in at UMass?

I think I am adjusting well, it is a much larger campus than I am used to. UMass has a much bigger student population and department size so it is a huge change but I am taking it one step at a time.

What experiences are you looking forward to in your role?

I am looking forward to working with similar interests as me and gaining experience on the job. There’s always something new to work on, there is an opportunity to do different things and get involved in various aspects of the department. My typical day is very diverse, I really love that the job is not limiting and I have a certain level of freedom and flexibility to express my ideas.

What do you hope to achieve here?

I would like to excel at my job. I would like to make changes to the website and make it better because I think it is a little bit outdated. Overall, I want to make a positive impact on the department. 

What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your career?

I would say do not sell yourself short. When I first applied for this position, I doubted that I would qualify because I am a recent graduate who has not had any real experience in the field. I believe you need to try your best and prepare yourself for the job market while you are still in school, look for internships, volunteer, and get letters of recommendation. Do something that would make you stand out from other candidates and do not limit yourself.

As a new staff member, what was your first impression about the Communication department?

I think the Communication department is very welcoming, everyone is friendly and helpful. It is a lot different from what I am used to but people have been reaching out to me and introducing themselves, it makes me feel like a part of the department. 

What do you like to do for fun?

I spend my free time doing graphic design and I also love to ski and bike.