Gretchen Elder

About CAMD
- Why CAMD
  
  Why CAMD
  Discover how faculty and students bring the mission and vision of CAMD to life. Learn about CAMD’s values – like creativity and innovation – and our community of multidisciplinary thinkers and practitioners who are creating solutions with an eye towards the future.
- About CAMD
  
  About CAMD
  Learn about the history of CAMD and it's six schools and departments, and how they combine to form a powerful, vibrant college.
- CAMD Leadership
  
  CAMD Leadership
  Our administration is a collaborative group of practitioners, academic experts, and leaders in their fields who collectively bring the CAMD vision to life every day.
- Belonging at CAMD
  
  Belonging at CAMD
  Our vision is to create an environment where all voices are heard, valued, and respected, and where opportunities are accessible to everyone, regardless of background or identity.
- Celebrations & Awards
  Information about CAMD graduation and awards
  
  Celebrations & Awards
  
  College Celebration
  
  Class of 2025
  
  CAMD Excellence Awards
- Contact
  
  Contact
  Looking for more information? Reach out to learn more about our programs and degrees.
About CAMD

Discover more about CAMD
Departments
- Architecture
  
  Architecture
  We provide students with focused, intensive training in architecture and landscape architecture, and tools to help solve real-world challenges. Explore undergrad, graduate, or post-grad programs or discover co-op opportunities to put your newfound skills into practice.
- Art + Design
  
  Art + Design
  Students engage with digital and media arts, using emerging technologies and practices. Learn how you can blend theoretical design principles with experiential learning in undergraduate and graduate degrees. See how you can gain real-world experience through international programs and co-op opportunities.
- Communication Studies
  
  Communication Studies
  Join a dynamic undergraduate program that will help you forge a distinctive niche within the vast and varied communication landscape. Engage with opportunities in Boston and around the globe as part of study abroad and build connections with co-op.
- Journalism
  
  Journalism
  Hone your investigative, analytical and presentation skills in our undergrad and graduate programs. Connect with industry professionals through co-op and study abroad programs.
- Music
  
  Music
  Cultivate a cross-disciplinary approach to the study and practice of music, underscored by cutting-edge technology and a wide-angle focus on music’s impact on cultures across the globe. Gain access to invaluable experiential learning opportunities through co-ops, workshops and professional networking.
- Theatre
  
  Theatre
  Aligning collaborative theatre-making (production, design, and performance) with academic study and practice-based research. Our students develop a rich foundation for meaningful and prosperous careers through experiential learning in co-ops and study away programs.
Interdisciplinary Design and Media, PhD

Learn about our department-spanning interdisciplinary PhD program
Programs & Admissions
- Undergraduate
  Learn about our diverse academic programs to decide which one best aligns with your interests and goals.
  
  Undergraduate
  
  Undergraduate Programs
  
  Undergraduate Admissions
  
  Auditions and Portfolios
  
  Undergraduate Advising
- Graduate
  Embark on the next phase of your academic journey. Learn more about CAMD graduate programs, application information and deadlines, and program requirements.
  
  Graduate
  
  Graduate Programs
  
  Graduate Admissions
  
  Graduate Advising
- PhD Programs
  
  PhD Programs
  The PhD in Interdisciplinary Design and Media offers an innovative, globally-aware, human-centered approach to advanced graduate study, focusing on practice-based research and scholarship applied to or conducted through making or creation.
- Plus One Program
  
  Plus One Program
  With an interdisciplinary focus, CAMD’s PlusOne pathway provides students a framework to earn undergraduate and master’s degrees in different subject areas. The result is a highly flexible, practical, and personalized academic experience that primes students for success in a wide array of emerging fields.
- Program Directory
  
  Program Directory
  Browse and compare a fully searchable and sortable directory of all programs available at CAMD.
Programs & Admissions

About our programs and admissions
Experiential Learning
- Co-Op Program
  Join an experiential learning program that enables students to explore potential career paths while alternating semesters of academic study with 6-month periods of full-time, paid employment.
  
  Co-Op Program
  
  Co-op Program
  
  Co-op Stories
  
  Co-op FAQs
  
  For Employers
- Global Learning
  Enrich your perspective with CAMD’s global learning opportunities, including study away programs and Dialogue of Civilization courses.
  
  Global Learning
  
  Dialogue of Civilizations
  
  N.U.in
  
  Study Abroad
  
  Milan Design Week
- Student Clubs
  
  Student Clubs
  Northeastern University’s Center for Student Involvement offers more than 340 clubs and organizations, open to students across all colleges and disciplines.
- Media Studios Organization
  
  Media Studios Organization
  The central lab, studio, making, and creative practice ecosystem through which the College of Arts, Media and Design supports experiential learning, cutting-edge research, and diverse creative practices.
Experiential Learning

Learn about experiential learning
Research
- Research at CAMD
  
  Research at CAMD
  CAMD is where creativity, collaboration, and communication collide. Join us as we explore how new media technologies impact communication, creative engagement, and the human experience.
- Research Centers
  Our Centers are platforms and spaces for multidisciplinary exploration, collaboration, and research.
  
  Research Centers
  
  Center for the Arts
  
  Center for Design
  
  Center for Transformative Media
- Labs & Initiatives
  
  Labs & Initiatives
  Promoting cross-university collaboration, research labs and initiatives support faculty-led investigations and scholarship into intersectional topics like health behavior and digital technology, and data storytelling and digital journalism.
- AI at CAMD
  
  AI at CAMD
  Human experience is the starting point for critical and creative practices of making across the College of Arts, Media and Design: making the built environment, designing expressive artifacts, sharing performances, or storytelling through news and media, for example.
- Student Research
  
  Student Research
  The College of Arts, Media and Design is pleased to offer research funds and grants to students who are looking to enhance their classroom learning through contributing to research, scholarship, and creative activity.
Research

Explore research at CAMD

Join us to celebrate the class of 2025. Find info, watch the web stream and read about the student and faculty award winners of 2025.

Gretchen Elder graduated with a BA in Communication Studies. While at CAMD, she was an active member of the Husky community, serving as

Departments

Communication Studies

Education

BA, Communication Studies

“

Throughout my time at NU, I've taken classes in photography, communications, law, vocal performance, and fashion. Each of these are quite different, but I've been able to explore them all!