 Raised by former English majors—an English professor and a technical writer—Max Herteen ’27 knew he was destined to study English as an undergraduate, too.
When Herteen arrived at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an undergraduate, he added history and French to his coursework as well (his parents met in French class). “I got to study a lot of things I really cared about at a university that wasn’t far from home, and that’s what was most important to me,” he explains. Many of the courses he took as an undergraduate were cross-listed among history, education policy, and English. Through these interdisciplinary classes, he discovered a new passion: education policy. This passion led him to Marquette, where he enrolled in the education policy PhD program. Once the program was underway, however, he had a realization: He loved the classes and research, but he didn’t want to be a professor, which was the career path the program was preparing him for. “They were very encouraging and understanding, and they helped me earn a master’s instead,” Herteen explains. After completing that degree, he applied for several jobs across the Midwest in higher education, specifically focusing on fundraising and alumni relations positions. An opening for an assistant director of alumni engagement at Northwestern caught his eye, and he jumped at the chance to apply, knowing he would take the opportunity to earn a second master’s degree here while he worked full-time. “I love learning, and I love staying mentally stimulated,” says Herteen. “So much of what I do at work is telling Northwestern’s story through newsletters, webinars, in-person events, and podcasts. It’s hard to do that if I’m not part of the campus community. I wanted to be taking classes, learning more about who’s in our community, and seeing the cool things students are doing. That way, I’m not just talking about it … I’m part of it.” He was ready to immerse himself in something new and relevant. To nurture his love of learning, he chose Northwestern’s MS in Communication (MSC) program: an easy decision, he says, since it aligns so well with what he does for a living. He knew it would also help him advance his own writing and production projects, which he pursues on the side. “Everything I’m learning is naturally adjacent to the work I do, and it’s helping me think critically about how I can better tell not only stories about Northwestern but also my own story,” he explains. Information Design, led by Professor Eric Patrick, has helped him better understand color theory and develop strong presentation skills: What will catch someone’s eye, and how will they perceive the message being conveyed? Herteen was even able to help redesign promotional materials for his work with these insights in mind. In Persuasive Message Design, taught by Professor Erik Nisbet, Herteen says he learned a lot about messaging as he analyzed an existing brand and worked through what an effective campaign might look like for it. Although he was unsure about being a part-time student in a program where so many of his peers are full-time, he says the community has been incredibly welcoming. “Everyone has been so understanding and supportive. They make it possible for me to commit my time in ways that work for me. They meet me where I am,” he explains. “I get one-on-one attention, which can be rare for someone who isn’t full-time.” Taking two classes per year, he has learned to establish a schedule and structure that helps him work around his own busy season so he can stay focused. And even though he spends most of his days on and around campus, Herteen says one of his favorite things to do is stick around to do his homework at night. His favorite study spot: Deering Library. “I can’t wait for the renovations to be done,” he notes. “I miss it!” “I believe in the mission of higher ed, and specifically here at Northwestern,” Herteen explains. “Every day, I get to work and study alongside brilliant people who are doing amazing things. I don’t think there’s another school in the country with this mix of student life, academics, a beautiful campus, and athletics. You can maybe get two or three of those at other schools, but you get all of them here.” 
In the future, he says he hopes to stay in alumni relations and development, making as much of an impact on the university community as possible. But, right now, he plans to stay exactly where he is after he earns his MSC, enjoying the energy of campus and finding original ways to support research and students and communicate Northwestern’s mission. |