Emmy Award-Winning Weather Anchor & Reporter Started at MCC

When first starting college, Carla Rojo felt lost, overwhelmed and unsure of her path. “This is when I decided I needed to be part of something,” she said. “I walked into Middlesex Community College’s Chair of the Performing Arts Karen Oster’s office, and the rest is history.”

From starring in musicals, participating in the Performing Arts Club, to meeting new friends who now feel like family, Rojo found her place at Middlesex. In turn, she realized a passion for performing, a skill she uses as an Emmy award-winning weather anchor and reporter for Telemundo/NBC. She credits Oster as the reason “I am where I am now.”

Although she struggled in her classes in the beginning, asking Oster for help put her on the right path. Learning this valuable skill not only impacted her education, but also showed her that “there are people willing to help you along the way, but you have to be willing to put in the work.”

Rojo found this to be true for the duration of her time at Middlesex and even now in her career. When people ask her for advice, she tells them to never be scared of reaching out to others. Even in an industry that may be tough to start off in, she emphasizes the importance of networking, asking for help, and being persistent, even if that means “knocking on doors.”

“And you know what,” she said. “If that door doesn’t open, then you try the window.”

As her parents moved to the United States from Medellin, Colombia, Rojo is a bilingual speaker. She found a community of support in MCC’s Multicultural Club. At one event, she helped choreograph a salsa dance number and was proud to “give people a little piece of our culture.”

A first-generation student from Lowell, Rojo came to Middlesex to save money and figure out what she wanted to study. In classes in MCC’s Communication program, she received hands-on experiences, dedicated professors, and a path to a career in which she is now thriving.

In an interview with the Communication program, she talked about the skills she learned that translate well to any job. These include marketing, public speaking and relations, broadcast journalism and production, among others. In addition to making these skills feel less intimidating, Rojo believes that “Middlesex is what opened up the doors that gave me that confidence to pursue my career.”

Rojo also considers herself “lucky” to have support from professors and instructors at Middlesex. She includes Oster, Dr. Jennifer Bauer, MCC’s Chair of Communication, Art and Design, and Jeff Northrup who remains a mentor to her. In addition to keeping the content fun and engaging, her instructors “had a piece in my journey.”

“MCC has some of the most passionate professors and employees, and that honestly makes a difference in your future,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the amazing people that helped guide me during my time there, I’m not really sure I would’ve graduated. Things would’ve been really different for me.”

Rojo graduated from MCC in 2012 as a Communication major. She transferred to Suffolk University to earn a bachelor’s degree and continue her studies in Communication with a Concentration in Broadcast Journalism.

In 2016, she returned to Middlesex to speak at Commencement and received the Distinguished Alumni award. She is grateful and proud to have started at MCC.

“Once I started asking for help and guidance things changed for me,” Rojo said. “Everyone at MCC was so helpful and willing to help me figure out what my future steps toward my final goal.”

Part of the Arts and Humanities pathway, the Communication program at MCC helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_artshum.aspx to discover a path to a career in Communications at Middlesex.

If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – and join the free Alumni Association – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or leea@middlesex.mass.edu. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni for more information.

To register for MCC’s Fall Mini-mester session II, starting on Monday, November 1, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 to register.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!