Riley Moger is a graduate student working on her master’s degree in Interactive Communications and Media. She is also currently finishing her undergraduate degree in Advertising and Integrated Communications. She has a creative background with a lot of storytelling, fan culture, and developing digital communities. As Riley attends school in Hamden, Connecticut, at Quinnipiac University, she becomes fascinated by the way people emotionally respond to media, storytelling, media life, and interactive experiences as participants as opposed to just viewers.

Academic Background

Riley’s academic journey is marked by varying degrees of advertising strategy, design strategy, and hands-on creative activities. Riley has learned about topics ranging from emotion-based branding to user-centric design and experience-centered communication through her coursework in media planning, visual storytelling, and interactive design. She has participated in activities such as developing creative briefs for nonprofit organizations (including 4Ocean). In her classes, Riley has been encouraged to think critically about narrative, interface, and interaction as core components of design strategy.

Creativity Outside the Classroom

Outside of school, Riley works on several creative side projects where she combines her interests in business with her passion for fan culture. She owns an Etsy shop where she paints and sells handmade banners, while also creating music-related content and sharing it on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. She also sells clothing through Depop and Poshmark. These projects provide Riley with hands-on experience and demonstrate her interest in content creation, audience engagement, and analytics.

Media Interests and Influences

Riley loves reading, pop culture, and online media, which strongly inform her interest in interactive media and communication. She is especially drawn to social media campaigns, influencer-driven branding, and immersive brand experiences that prioritize meaning and emotional connection. Her favorite forms of media, however, involve fan culture, music, and storytelling, where audiences are not only consuming media but also actively contributing to and reshaping it.

Looking Forward To The Future

In her future career, Riley hopes to specialize in social media, digital branding, or creative communication, particularly within entertainment, lifestyle, wellness, or consumer branding spaces. Long term, she aims to develop interactive campaigns that combine strategy and emotion, using data and storytelling to create experiences that feel meaningful and relatable. Riley is most excited by roles that integrate creativity, technology, and pop culture.

Why Writing Interactive Media

Riley is excited about taking Writing Interactive Media because she wants to learn alongside others who share an interest in the future of interactive media. She values experimentation and feedback, and views this course as an opportunity to push herself creatively, grow as a writer, and bring intentional energy to her work.