Marc Mowrer ('01)
Name: Marc Mowrer
Major: Communication
Minor: Spanish
Year of Graduation: 2001
Hometown: Seattle, WA (now living in Spokane, WA)
SMC has a really interactive, energetic Communication Department, which adds to a curriculum that is relevant in today’s dynamic society. A Communication degree has a dual benefit: a student takes general courses that are applicable to many professions while simultaneously being able to delve into technology, film production, politics, etc. I sincerely miss my daily interaction and classes with Shawny Anderson, Sue Fallis, Ellen Rigsby, Michael Russo, and Ed Tywoniak.
In addition to the above, I was fortunate to play tennis at SMC, so I miss my teammates and coaches; I miss the rhythm of the college day, especially at a place as picturesque as SMC. I recall walking from practice to the weight room and seeing sun and palm trees set amongst mission-style buildings – in February! To put it kindly, Seattle lacked all three of those elements.
I also miss SMC’s campus environment as I enjoyed recognizing other students and teachers throughout the day. I realize a smaller campus is not for everyone, but for me, a larger school would have dampened the connection I felt to a school.
At SMC, I began to do well in school as I was too focused on sports during high school. (Note: Many of my close friends do not consider tennis a sport; thus, they also dispute me using the dumb-jock excuse.)
"I found the SMC faculty was genuinely interested in my development and ideas, and while I acknowledge this sounds like a puff piece introduction, the reality is that these relationships allowed me to grow."
My favorite course there was probably Oral Communication for two reasons: (1) Public speaking is critical in almost any profession, so structuring thoughts to influence an audience is a skill I use every day in meetings and negotiations and (2) truthfully, I really like to hear myself talk, which is pathetic – I know.
I took some of the skills I learned in my courses with me when I worked with the Seattle Mariners Baseball Organization. SMC assisted greatly by virtue of my exposure to web interfaces and working in teams to pursue a common goal, both of which were emphasized in Communication courses. Besides my job with the Mariners, I worked for Swire Coca-Cola in Salt Lake City, Utah, and I worked for the Compliance Department for Athletics at the University of Washington in Seattle. I also went to law school and graduated from Seattle University School of Law.
Now I am a broker in commercial real estate where I lease and sell commercial property. The best part of being a broker is meshing a client’s business and real estate needs and then, in consultation with the client, arriving at a fiscally prudent decision, which when done well, causes people to value what I do. I’m a sucker for compliments, I suppose. The hardest part is learning a work/life balance because, like many professions, I could work 24-7. Getting married and having a son has greatly helped in that regard.
And now on to advice for current students. First, when I started college, I would roll my eyes when graduates would comment about how quickly college would pass, but unfortunately, they were right, and the amazing time at Saint Mary’s flew by me. Second, I should have explored the Bay Area more as it is truly a unique place from San Francisco, to the beaches, to the outdoor activities in the area. Finally, I enjoyed traveling abroad to Spain after I graduated, so I would recommend that students find a way to travel (or study) abroad as soon as possible.