Student Profile: Tori Walton Moved From Texas to Study Strategic Communication at Webster Vienna

Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) student Tori Walton is new to Austria, but she already envisions putting roots down in the capital city.

Originally from Texas, a state in the United States, Walton moved to Vienna before the start of the spring 2023 semester and is studying in the Strategic Communication program.

“I moved to Vienna about six months ago with my partner, and plan to stay here for a very long time," said Walton. "I love Vienna, especially the gorgeous museums and the access to public transportation that I never had before. I have always dreamed of living in another country.”

After high school graduation, Walton worked full time and soon after began taking online courses at a community college in Texas. Those classes reignited her passion for learning. With her partner soon moving to Vienna, Walton decided to apply to Webster Vienna’s Strat Comm program.

“WVPU’s Strategic Communication program really stood out to me since I had always had a passion for media creation and communications as a whole," Walton said. "Seeing that the program here was relatively new, I had confidence that it would be current and have people who really wanted to learn and to teach something new and exciting."

Walton said her favorite part about studying Strategic Communication at WVPU has been the creativity and the encouragement to think in ways that she might not have in the past.

“The overall structure and creativity of Seth Wiener’s class, Digital Production Tools, will really stick with me," Walton said. "For my learning style and need for creativity, Wiener’s class has been a highlight of the Strat Comm program. I would recommend it to anyone in Strat Comm or anyone who needs an elective.

“Professor Anthony Löwstedt’s course, Persuasion, is incredibly interesting," she added. "You learn so much about persuasion as a whole and in media, while also being in a fun and interactive environment. I will definitely be taking more courses offered by Professor Löwstedt, and I cannot wait to do so."

Walton earned a spring 2023 Webster Vienna Training Scholarship and works as the graduation assistant, helping plan commencement. She manages communications that go out to graduating seniors, as well as creating promotional flyers, helping run registration, and overall assisting the Webster Vienna graduation team.

“I love getting to help the graduating students finish out their studies with a big celebration," Walton said. "I hope to continue to become more involved in extra-curricular activities throughout my time at Webster Vienna."

The WVPU Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication provides students with the skills and knowledge for leadership positions in advertising, public relations, promotions, campaigns, corporate communication and beyond. The program combines knowledge management, public relations, problem-solving, negotiation, leadership, persuasion, media literacy, communication theory, corporate and crisis communication, promotions, and communication campaigns that graduates can apply in workforce situations.

Graduates of this program become proficient in strategic writing and message creation, research, audience analysis, persuasion, and social media skills.