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MY COM JOUNREY
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Get to Know Me
My name is Cooper Griffin, and I am a Political Science and Communication Studies major at The University of Alabama with a passion for connecting communication theory to real-world advocacy. From researching how college athletes negotiate identity in my honors capstone, organizing the largest Greek Week food drive in UA history, to advocating for experimental access to medicines for terminally ill children on Capitol Hill, I have consistently applied communication skills to both scholarship and community leadership. These experiences, along with my experience in organizational leadership and federal affairs in Washington, D.C., have strengthened my ability to analyze rhetoric, lead teams with diverse personalities, and adapt communication across a variety of contexts. Looking ahead, I plan to bridge law, policy, and communication to empower others and create meaningful change over the course of my career.
My College of Communication and Information Sciences Journey
Through my coursework in Communication Studies, I have developed a strong foundation across all of the department’s learning outcomes. I demonstrated mastery of Communication Theory by applying frameworks like Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Social Identity Theory to real projects, such as my Family Communication interview and my Capstone Project on identity negotiation in NIL athletes. These experiences not only taught me how theory explains everyday interactions, but also how theory can manifest itself in the real-world through our family dynamics and structures, as well as our identity negotiation on social media platforms. I strengthened my Oral and Written Communication skills by delivering persuasive speeches in Public Speaking, debating ethical dilemmas in Argumentation, and writing rhetorical criticism papers that challenged me to not only adapt my voice to different audiences, but shift my own perspective on why I believe what I believe. I expanded my awareness of Diversity and Communication by examining how culture, privilege, and power shapes organizational and interpersonal dynamics, which prepared and enabled me to lead inclusive initiatives like the Greek Week food drive, a testament to the impact that communication can have on the lives of others. My coursework also sharpened my Critical Thinking and Communication Inquiry through projects in Rhetorical Criticism and Critical Decision Making, where I learned to evaluate evidence, question assumptions, and analyze artifacts with a level of detail that challenged my intellectual depth and perseverance. Finally, I consistently demonstrated Communication Application by translating communication theory into practice in my own life. From applying organizational communication skills when leading several large organizations on campus, to engaging in healthy conflict management practices when assigning the roles and responsibilities of a group project, I have seen first-hand how communication can empower us in our personal and professional lives.
My Future In Communications
My experiences in Communication Studies have given me the ability to analyze complex issues, adapt messages to diverse audiences, and lead with clarity and purpose. These skills have already shaped the way I approach advocacy and problem‑solving, and they will serve as the foundation for my next chapter at the University of Alabama School of Law in Fall 2026. By carrying forward the lessons I’ve learned about theory, rhetoric, and applied communication, I am prepared to engage deeply with legal study and use communication as a tool for effective advocacy and meaningful change.