2026 District 7 Rising Star
Alexis Calma
Communications Consultant
South Puget Sound Community College
Washington
What did you do before joining South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC)? How did that prepare you for your current role?
I was a technical writer at the University of Washington’s Sensors, Energy, and Automation Laboratory and a co-managing editor at Bricolage Literary and Visual Arts Journal. In both roles, I was responsible for being detail-oriented and delegating to a team in a fast-paced environment, skills I’ve continued to use and hone as a communications consultant.
What is one of your major accomplishments since starting at SPSCC?
An accomplishment I’m incredibly proud of is getting our social media internship program off the ground. There was a lot of trial and error, but I’m thankful for the support of my director and team in ensuring that I had the resources I needed to make it successful. Now, we’ve got a process in place for hiring, training and giving our interns a platform to flourish as influencers on behalf of the college, and the analytics to support the program’s growth.
What is one of the things you like best about working in higher ed?
My favorite thing about working in higher education is working with students. When I interview students for a press release or story, their pride and excitement for what they do is so palpable. Outside of my work as a communications consultant, I’m the advisor for both SPSCC’s PTK chapter and its Creative Writing Club. I’m consistently inspired by our students’ ideas, dreams and resilience; and I’m never short of reasons when it comes to why I love what I do.