Editor’s note: As part of CSUSB’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the university is showcasing a number of earlier stories highlighting Hispanic and Latino students, alumni, faculty and staff.

This article was originally published on Feb. 25, 2021.

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Alyssa Silva always knew that she wanted a career in audio/video engineering and voice acting, so while attending the Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, she interned as the program director at Paws Radio, the campus radio station.

While working at the station, Silva started an educational podcast, called “Educated,” with the goal of gaining more experience for her resume and providing a safe space for students to chat about things happening in their lives.

Silva graduated from the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says that her career plans have shifted a bit. But when she was offered a temporary position at Paws Radio after graduation, she says that she jumped at the opportunity.

Now as an alumna, Silva continues to bring original content to the podcast every week.

“I feel that this podcast could be valuable to students who feel like they’re on their own or feel a little lost during this time,” said Silva. “Whether you are in high school, college, or new alumni like me, this is the podcast for you to hear about self-improvement, personal stories and much more.”

The coursework prepared her well, she says. “The media studies courses offered at PDC have taught me everything I know about this field. I learned how to properly edit audio productions and gain a love for audio production. Attending PDC has helped me find confidence in my talents and has allowed me to express my creativity.” 

Listeners can catch Silva, or Alyssa Rae as she refers to herself on the podcast, on various platforms including, Spotify, Breaker and PocketCasts.

To listen to Paws Radio, the official radio station of the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, visit the Paws Radio webpage.

The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees, a doctorate in educational leadership, and teaching credentials and certificates. With more than 1,600 students, it is the Coachella Valley’s four-year public university and plays a vital role in educating and training the region’s growing population.

For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Strategic Communication at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the campus website at www.csusb.edu/pdc.