Joanna Arnsmeyer: Communication Skills Learned at AU Key to Connecting with Rural Electric Cooperative Members.

How did you learn about Anderson University?

Anderson was close enough to home, but just far enough—an hour and 20 minutes. When I toured, I just knew 100 percent that's where I was supposed to be. I was praying a lot about where to go to college, and I wanted to go where God wanted me. It was an overwhelming sense of peace that this is where God wanted me, so that's how I initially chose Anderson. It just felt like another home at the time.

I went in as a communications major and stayed as a communications major all the way through, but, after my first semester freshman year I added on a political science major as well.

Professor Reeves was definitely one of my favorites. I loved all of his classes. I graduated May of 2021, so I spent three years at Anderson on my undergrad. My high school had a dual enrollment program, so I got some Technical College credits under my belt before I started at Anderson; I was able to graduate in three years, which was bittersweet, because I wasn't quite ready to leave yet but I was excited for the next chapter.

What are some of your favorite college memories?

Definitely the friendships that I built while I was there. I lived in Royce my freshman year, and on my hall is where I met my best friends. Four of those that I met on that hall are going to be bridesmaids in my wedding in October. We had a great friend group all throughout my time at Anderson. We loved a game night and spending quality time together. I loved the community on the campus and having a faith-based experience at college.

Were there any organizations/activities you were involved in?

I went to BCM throughout college, and I was a part of the PRSSA my junior and senior year. We went to all of the activities that AU held. I loved Springfest and Fall Fest especially.

How did you become interested in a communication major?

Originally my plan was to go to law school. I started as a communications major because I thought that would be a very solid degree and good foundation. I've always loved writing and thought that communications would be a great degree to have going into law school. Then COVID hit and I call it my “not even quarter life crisis” because I was only 20, but I asked myself, "Do I actually want to go to law school?” I was really enjoying all of my PR classes with Professor Reeves, so I really took a hard look. I even went so far as taking my LSAT and was about to start applying (to law schools). Ultimately, I was more interested in communications and PR—communications plans and storytelling. So, I stayed on the communications/PR route. I am grateful that I chose to major in communications because it is how I found what I am passionate about.

What led you to pursue an MBA?

I enjoyed school and didn't think I wanted to be done yet. After working at Santee Electric Cooperative for almost a year, I started thinking about an MBA program and looked at Anderson because I had such a great experience during my undergrad. I was happy to find out that AU had the option for a fully online MBA program. I wanted to get more of a foundation for business, and I wanted to expand my knowledge in areas like accounting, leadership, operational processes, etc. I also was able to add a marketing concentration which was fantastic. That was really beneficial for my career.

What are some ways you feel your Anderson education has been helping you in your work?

One of my favorite things about my job is I'm Santee Electric’s local editor for the South Carolina Living magazine. Our statewide organization is the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. They publish South Carolina Living monthly, and each local co-op has a few pages every month of their localized content. Being the local editor, I am usually the one interviewing people, so being interviewed is a little different for me, which is funny. Anderson gave me the foundation to know how to write and edit because that is a huge part of my job. Some things that my education prepared me for are how to develop communications plans, being able to communicate in the best way to our members, to get them to understand information or share something that we're doing in the community or a grant program we have and things like that. Anderson set me up with a skillset I am thankful for.

What are some of the joys and challenges of your job?

Definitely a joy is the magazine and getting to interview people and write feature stories on them. I've had the privilege of interviewing some of our local legislators—that's been really cool—and some of our key accounts, which are some of the big businesses that we serve. It's been very fun to learn about our community here.

I get to run our social media page and our website, and I'm heavily involved in all of our school programs. We offer scholarships to seniors in our service territory. We offer a grant program called Bright Ideas where we give grants to teachers every year for innovative classroom projects that they otherwise couldn't get funded. I really enjoy working with schools and helping empower the next generation. I am also our event planner at the co-op. I’m just naming everything that I do at this point because I really love what I do at Santee Electric.

To answer your question about the challenge, now that I have been a part of this community for four years, I feel like I have a good foundation in Williamsburg, Clarendon, Georgetown and Florence counties (the counties that Santee Electric serves), but at first it was learning about the different communities and how to best serve them.

What about the annual meetings?

I love the Annual Meeting—it's probably one of my favorite days of the year. Annual Meeting is a huge part of my job. We prepare for it almost all year long, then when it ends, we start on the one for next year. My main goals are to promote the Annual Meeting, help with the planning of gifts and prizes, and coordinating the business meeting. Ever since COVID, Santee Electric has had drive-thru annual meetings, and people love it. A member can come through and be done within 10 minutes. A member will register and receive their gift and bill credit, and we get to smile and say hi and then they go on about their day. The Annual Meeting is also a vital time for members to vote on cooperative matters. We live stream the business meeting, so that's been something that I've been helping implement and we get better and better every year with it.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to pursue a communication major?

I would say be prepared for some writing because that is definitely necessary as a communications major. Rely on your professors and go ask them if you have any questions, and find a good study group. It's really something that if you have the passion for it, you're going to really excel at it, so do it.

It sounds like the co-op world has been good to you.

I’m thankful to be where I’m at. The co-op has been very good to me, and I have very much enjoyed my job so far and starting my career. I am going to keep following the plan God has for me!