Alumni Profiles
Alumni in their own words - Chloe Friesen (CMU ‘22)
Reflections through the lens of a Communications and Media graduate and Blazers Volleyball athlete
Chloe Friesen (CMU '22), currently an Associate Producer with CBC Manitoba. says, "the Communications and Media program taught me the practical skills I use daily at work, and the rest of my courses provided a strong foundation for writing and research skills."
Where has your life taken you since you left CMU?
Since graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in 2022, I have been working full-time as an associate producer with CBC Manitoba in the Current Affairs department. During my final year of studies, I worked casually as a radio show technician, so it was exciting to continue doing what I loved at CBC in a larger capacity. Since then, I've taken on a variety of roles within the public broadcaster, including producing stories and interviews for radio programs, directing live radio shows, writing and presenting for television, editing social media content, and—my favourite—filling in as host for Information Radio, Radio Noon, and Up To Speed. I've also had the opportunity to write, host, and produce my own hour-long radio documentary, The Case for Cursive. For someone who has always been fascinated by radio, it has been a stellar opportunity.
What of your experience at CMU continues to influence your life and/or work?
I think about my studies and experiences at CMU all the time. The Communications and Media program taught me the practical skills I use daily at work, and the rest of my courses provided a strong foundation for writing and research skills. Also, I'm still connected to so many of the people and professors I met during my time on campus. It makes me smile whenever I see CMU in the news—there's so much important research coming out of our small-but-mighty institution!
What is a memorable experience from your time playing Blazers Volleyball at CMU?
Would you believe me if I told you I wasn't planning to play volleyball in university? I was a late registrant to CMU, and, on a whim, I decided to connect with the then-head coach of Blazers Women's Volleyball, Evelyn Kampen. Expecting a kind rejection, Evelyn invited me to a summer practice as an informal tryout. Thankfully, she saw something in me. Without Evelyn, I wouldn't have had the student-athlete experience at CMU. Seeing her name on the Trail of Honour in the gym is a special reminder of that, and her impact on so many other athletes. I'd be remiss not to mention another former coach of mine, Jayme Menzies. Her holistic approach to coaching really opened my eyes to a new way of doing sports. Because of Jayme, I'm now a coach with Agoojin, a youth volleyball club for Indigenous girls and Two-Spirit youth. There's still so much work to be done to remove barriers that so many young athletes face Manitoba, and I'm honoured to be a part of that work in a small way.
What advice would you give a current student?
This one is for the first-year students—let yourself explore! Even if you're convinced you know exactly where you want to go in life, sign up for that course that has nothing to do with your imagined career path. I have never regretted a single course I took at CMU—even the math one! And if you know me, that's really saying something. You should also go and support your Blazers teams. Even if you're not an athlete, you're a Blazer too. My favourite games I played were the ones where I saw my friends and classmates in the stands. Put on some spirit wear, make some silly signs, and get loud! Your time at CMU won't last forever, so make the most of it.
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