Kemi Giwa's passion for journalism and politics paves the way for success

Kemi Giwa’s journey from a newsroom enthusiast to a political communications expert began in the Bay Area. 

Growing up in San Jose, news was a daily ritual with her family as she was immersed in current events from a young age. Her father, a self-proclaimed news junkie, made sure she and her brothers kept up with The New York Times and The Washington Post every day. This early exposure fostered her deep appreciation for journalism and the role of media in shaping public discourse.

“I grew up with a fascination for news,” Giwa recalled. “It was just a part of my daily routine to understand what was going on in the world.”

With a strong interest in politics and media, Giwa chose to attend San Diego State University, where she majored in journalism with an emphasis in public relations, along with a minor in political science. 

Initially, she envisioned herself as a journalist, drawn to the profession’s power to inform and influence society. However, she quickly realized that the objectivity required in journalism did not align with her outspoken nature.

“I have a lot of thoughts and opinions – like, a lot,” she admitted with a laugh. “And [objectivity] was going to be impossible for me.”

A pivotal moment came when she met with her internship adviser, who introduced her to the world of political public relations. It led her to an internship with then California State Assembly member Todd Gloria, now the mayor of San Diego. 

During her time with Gloria’s office, she was involved in speechwriting and event photography.

“That experience solidified things for me,” she shared. “Realizing this is really something that interests me and I can do.”

Giwa graduated from SDSU in 2019, but her experiences while a student were instrumental in shaping her career. She was actively involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America and The Daily Aztec, both of which played key roles in her professional development.

“PRSSA was really helpful because it introduced me to people who were actually working in public relations,” she says. “Talking to people in the field helped me decide if it was something I wanted to do.”

However, it was her work with The Daily Aztec that she considers her most valuable experience. She started as a staff writer and later became the opinion editor during her senior year.

“Working at The Daily Aztec was the best thing I ever did in college,” Giwa says. “I’m still friends with most of the people I worked with there.”

Through The Daily Aztec, she had the opportunity to cover major events, including the 2016 presidential election, local elections and other pressing issues.

“It really puts you at the center of issues that are most important,” she says. “It helped me learn to communicate my stance on pressing topics.”

Beyond academics and extracurricular activities, Giwa has fond memories of late nights at the newspaper’s office in Lamden Hall, where she and her colleagues worked tirelessly to meet production deadlines.

“We would be there until one in the morning,” she reminisced. “It was like crunch time the night before the paper would run. That’s where we became so close.”

Additionally, she was involved in the University Affairs Board and helped start SDSU’s first-ever mock trial team, considering law as a potential career path before fully committing to political PR.

Her journalism and media studies courses, particularly those with Dr. Kaye Sweetser and Dr. Nate Rodriguez, also left a lasting impact. Giwa credits these professors with providing valuable insights and challenging her to think critically about media and communication.

Today, Giwa serves as the Communications Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, a role that perfectly blends her interests in politics and public relations. 

Through her journey, Giwa’s story is a testament to the power of following one’s passions, embracing opportunities, and finding a career path that aligns with both skills and values.