Don't panic if your path isn't linear. Sometimes the work that feels unrelated or disconnected is actually building the exact skill set that you need." - Alyssa Gray-Tyghter
University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) Media Studies alum (the program is now known as Media & Communication Studies (MCS)) Alyssa Gray-Tyghter (class of 2009) has forged a career that is anything but linear. Her journey has been as boundless as her aspirations, driven by the belief that a degree is a key that opens doors – not something that confines you.
With a strong foundation of media literacy, analytical and communication skills built at Guelph-Humber, Gray-Tyghter’s 15+ year career has led her to being a liaison officer for U of GH, an elementary school teacher, a consultant, a developer of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) learning and development educational programs, and a PhD candidate. While these roles may not appear to be interconnected at first glance, one thing is clear: each step in her career is linked by a passion for education, community, equity, and helping people.
“Don't panic if your path isn't linear. Sometimes the work that feels unrelated or disconnected is actually building the exact skill set that you need,” she said.
After realizing a career in corporate communications wasn’t her calling, Gray-Tyghter accepted a job offer as a liaison officer at Guelph-Humber. Through visiting high schools to talk about U of GH, Gray-Tyghter realized she enjoyed working with students, prompting her to apply to teachers’ college to become an educator.
During her 12 years as a teacher, Gray-Tyghter started the Brampton/Caledon chapter of Mommy Connections, where she helped mothers connect with each other and with their children from the prenatal stage through toddlerhood. At the heart of this endeavour was education and serving the community.
Throughout her journey as an educator, she also held roles in guidance counselling, special education, equity leadership, and systems-level leadership at the Peel District School Board (PDSB) office – a tremendous period of growth.
Most recently, Gray-Tyghter held the role of Manager, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging – Learning and Development at Humber Polytechnic, where her work also touched the U of GH community. She took complex issues and theories and turned them into practical tools for the Humber and U of GH community by developing institution-wide learning strategies that embed EDIB into organizational development and daily practice.
“I like the idea that putting out practical tools and resources really changes hearts and minds,” Gray-Tyghter said.
Reflecting on her time as a U of GH student, she said she learned how to work in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities, and this skill has been useful throughout her career. When she began working in leadership roles, she frequently dealt with crisis communications, handling situations by providing clear succinct statements to stakeholders.
“People often don’t see the through line when you're looking at media studies and how you get to education, but a lot of speaking with people, teaching people, getting them to understand your message in education is [communication],” she said.
While the next steps of her career are still emerging, Gray-Tyghter knows she will continue to help others through strategic planning and practical actions to make a positive difference. Her success proves that even though a degree is a piece of paper, it is not a box. Your path is your own adventure, so use your education to carve out your own journey.
Since Gray-Tyghter's graduation in 2009, the MCS program has evolved to prepare a new generation of learners to be big-picture thinkers, with a toolbox of content creation skills to be successful in a variety of careers from communications to marketing to social media professionals – and so much more.
Explore Media & Communication Studies at the University of Guelph-Humber here.
