By Ria Deshmukh
Since earning a master's degree in the Strategic Communication program at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, Juli Spencer’s career has come “full circle.” Starting off as an English teacher, Spencer was drawn to the corporate world by the dot-com bubble, where she spent over two decades as an interactive copywriter and brand strategist. Now, she has combined her teaching and communications expertise to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: online polarization.
In her new role as founder and curriculum developer at Depolarizing Discourse, Spencer helps adolescents engage in thoughtful, productive, and less reactive dialogue. Her curriculum centers on training students to develop the “pre-thinking” skills that are often missing from traditional education. The focus isn’t solely on how to respond in a discussion; it's also focused on absorbing information, deciding when to respond, and responding thoughtfully. At a time when digital media dominates cultural conversations, Spencer believes these decision-making skills are essential.
Spencer’s time at Columbia University played a direct role in shaping Depolarizing Discourse. She enrolled in the program while doing branding and strategic messaging work for nonprofits. Because many of her clients lacked the budgets for paid advertising, she wanted to strengthen her ability to tell persuasive stories for mission-driven organizations. The program had exactly what she was looking for. Spencer cites the program's focus on ethics as an “aha” moment for her work at Depolarizing Discourse. Spencer recalls realizing that seemingly binary problems often are not binary at all. By considering the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, communicators can often find more collaborative and nuanced solutions. “One overarching theme or thread that kind of wove through multiple classes was the importance of giving others the benefit of the doubt before making assumptions,” she says.
As she works to foster nuance in the digital world, this theme remains central to her mission. In addition to drawing from ethics, Spencer applies key concepts from several courses in the program to Depolarizing Discourse. She carries forward the importance of accountability, the value of staying rooted in a core mission, and inspiring people to do their best.
Spencer’s journey illustrates that the value of the Strategic Communication program is not only in the technical skills. The deeper habits of mind the coursework develops are perhaps the more lasting and transferable lessons. Paying close attention to ethics, accountability, mission, leadership, and thoughtful audience engagement is crucial because those ideas become the foundation for work far beyond the classroom. Communication is more than a tool for profit; it can be a vehicle for social impact.
About the Program
Columbia University's M.S. in Strategic Communication program empowers current and aspiring leaders to shape the future through strategic communication. It is designed to respond to the urgent need for global perspectives, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making at all levels of organization. The interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes audience-centered strategy and digital competency. Distinguished scholar-practitioner faculty bring real-world experience into the classroom and provide a learning experience that is immediately relevant in the workplace.
The program is available full-time on campus or part-time online with residencies. The part-time format is ideal for experienced full-time professionals based in or outside the New York metropolitan area. Learn more about the program here.
