Victoria Ochoa realized the power of communication to bridge gaps and tell important stories during her time in the Navy. As she transitioned to civilian life, she knew she wanted to continue making an impact. For her, marketing and communications isn’t just a career—it’s a way to connect, inspire, and bring people together.
She’s excited to connect with fellow veterans, active-duty military members, and others who have walked a similar path. “There’s something incredibly valuable about learning alongside people who truly understand the unique challenges and experiences we’ve faced," Ochoa says. "I’m looking forward to collaborating with others who share my background and applying our previous experiences to push the boundaries of what’s possible in our careers now.”
Ochoa chose WVU’s M.S. IMC program, as part of the Military Public Affairs cohort, because it offers the skills and innovation she needs to advance her career. “The program is perfect for someone like me, eager to take what I learn in the classroom and immediately apply it in the real world,” she adds.
- Explore the M.S. IMC Military Public Affairs (DINFOS) program.
Outside of marketing and communications, Ochoa is all about hands-on creativity and adventure. During COVID, she dove into van life, building her camper van from the ground up. From learning solar electrical systems to plumbing and carpentry, she sparked her DIY love. When she’s not working, you’ll find her tackling the latest TikTok trends or planning her next adventure around the world.
Ochoa is a Senior Communications Specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Throughout her career, she’s learned just how impactful a well-crafted message can be, especially when managing social media during critical moments. Ochoa is looking forward to stepping into a role where she can advance and become the mentor she wishes she had when she transitioned out of the military.
I’m all about lifting others up, especially fellow veterans and women, as they move from military life to careers in the creative field. Victoria Ochoa
Making Your Mark on the Marketing Communications Industry is a feature series on the Marcom Today Blog highlighting the future leaders of marketing communicators. Are you a WVU Marketing Communications Online student (incoming or current) ready to showcase your talents and ambitions? We want to hear from YOU! Contact Stefanie Moore at Stefanie.Moore@mail.wvu.edu to set up your feature. This series will include blogs, social media spotlights and optional Instagram takeovers.
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Stefanie Moore
Marketing Manager
Stefanie is a marketing manager in the Marketing Communications Online Programs through the College of Creative Arts and Media at West Virginia University. She is an alumna of WVU's M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) and has been working in marketing for over 6 years after beginning her career in the newspaper business. She's a marathon runner and she recently ran a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon.
Marcom Today
Marketing Communications Today is a collection of resources for marketing communications professionals filled with industry research, marketing trends, and career information about integrated marketing and data-driven communications. Learn industry insights through the Marketing Communications Today blog, podcast, as well as Integrate Online.
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