Emily Ridout received her MA from the University of Oregon in Folklore in 2015 and now works as Program Coordinator for the Confucius Institute at the University of Oregon and spends her spare time running her own own astrology/yoga business and teaching at Mudra Yoga.

During her time as a student, NMCC helped her refine skills she used while filming, editing, and producing documentary films on topics ranging from environmental tourism to the chemistry of effective birth control. The certificate “added depth, and made it easier applying to jobs post-graduation. Also, having the skills to produce media content made building my personal business much easier.”

In her current position at the university, she continues to produce films as well as posters and web content. In her business, she manages web design and photo editing, and produces her own podcast: “Spirit Lore—a podcast where I interview all the people whose esoteric jobs we wish we knew more about (shamans, acupuncturists, tantric scholars, meditation guides, etc).”

Emily’s favorite thing about the program was the common seminar, “which positioned producing and using media within a larger context.”

Her favorite thing about working at the Confucius Institute is the diverse population she encounters, the institute often hosts interesting scholars from around the world. She is passionate about digital humanities because “they have given me tools to connect to people, communicate ideas, and listen to others on a broader scale than I previously thought possible.”

For anyone interested in working in this field, Emily has a great tip: “Start producing media today! Even if you’re not sure you’re doing it right, even if you’re not sure it will be perfect (it never is!).”

Emily’s Resources – “they get the job done in a fraction of the time!”

• Squarespace – website design, domains, eCommerce, hosting, galleries, analytics, support.
• Canva – create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, Facebook covers, flyers, posters, invitations and more.
• VSCO – an art and technology company that provides the tools and resources for people to create, discover, publish, and connect using superior mobile presets & advanced camera controls.