Taylor Mobley, a recent Trinity graduate, is building a career within the media industry in San Antonio. Soon after graduating, she began working as an associate producer for the San Antonio Living Morning Show.
“I actually got the job because of Trinity,” said Mobley, a Trinity alumna with a B.A. in communication. “Aspen Gonzalez was telling me how Admissions wanted to advertise the upcoming Career Fair on the San Antonio Living Show. She asked me to go on the show and give a student’s perspective. It was the coolest thing.”
After appearing on the show, Mobley emailed the contact Aspen had been given, expressing her appreciation for the chance to appear on air and an interest in any internship opportunities the station had to offer. Mobley applied to three internships from the station and interned that summer at the San Antonio Living Morning Show through the Live Style Internship. She now has the chance to continue pursuing that passion through her job.
“I help with guest relations, making sure that everything is to their liking before the segment happens and making sure that everything is set in place so that the show can run smoothly,” Mobley said. “It’s hectic, but really fun. The job keeps you on your toes and gives you something new every day, which is one of the things that I really love about the job.”
When she first came to Trinity, Mobley knew she wanted to be active in the theatre department, but also sought another discipline. She took two classes with Robert Huesca, professor of communication. She enjoyed both, then declared her major in communication. Huesca became her advisor.
“From the start of my passion for communication, Dr. Huesca was a big influencing factor because of his passion for the field and for helping students. Whether it was questions about classes or just life, he was always very helpful,” Mobley said.
Huesca offered Mobley support throughout her time at Trinity, such as when she had an internship at Channel 4 this past summer.
“I remember checking my e-mail one day and clicking on a video clip that Taylor had sent from her internship at Channel 4’s morning show,” said Robert Huesca, professor of communication. “They had given her the chance to go live on-air with a social media segment. Her delivery was as strong, poised and polished as any of the paid staff her first time live. That’s when I knew that for Taylor, the sky’s the limit career-wise. I really believe that we’ll be seeing her on the national stage before long.”
After declaring her major, Mobley also grew close with Jennifer Henderson, chair of the communication department.
“Dr. Henderson became someone I really leaned on once I was getting into the upperclassmen phases of job applications, interviews and decisions,” Mobley said. “She was always very helpful and supportive, whether it was for advice on what to put in a cover letter, what to put on my demo reel and even just to calm me down.”
Mobley also worked on the set of TigerTV during her time at Trinity, which she feels has helped her to prepare for her career.
“James Bynum from TigerTV was always super supportive and really offered great feedback whether I was on air or off,” Mobley said. “He was always there to offer a good perspective and be a mentor.”
As a theatre minor, Mobley participated both in mainstage shows and off-campus productions. She was cast in “Pippin,” “Three Sisters” and “Hellcab,” among various other shows while attending Trinity.
“Taylor is the kind of person who can always put a smile on your face,” said Catherine Clark, a Trinity alumna with a B.A. in Spanish and communication. “When I worked with her for “˜Three Sisters,’ she brought a brightness to rehearsal and the whole play. She’s great and I would love to work with her again.”
Within the department of theatre and human communications, Mobley developed a close relationship to Stacey Connelly, associate professor of human communication and theatre. She took several classes with Connelly, such as Play Structure and Acting II.
“Stacey Connelly really helped mold me and sculpt me as an actress and was super supportive even when I did decide to pursue communication,” Mobley said. “I really appreciated her support and all the things she taught me during my time at Trinity.”
Connelly enjoyed having Mobley in classes and working with her on various projects.
“Taylor is very emotionally available and sensitive. She reads plays with a lot of empathy and insight,” said Stacey Connelly. “I feel like Taylor really grew a lot as an actor. She truly has this charisma, and that is what makes her really watchable.”
While at Trinity, Mobley acted in a wide variety of roles in productions and class projects, from a rather unsympathetic soldier in “Three Sisters” to one of the main characters in “By The Way, Meet Vera Stark.”
“I remember particularly a scene she did from “Julie Johnson” by Wendy Hammond,” Connelly said. “She played the best friend of the title character. I thought that Taylor was so good at playing this down-to-earth, working-class woman.”
Mobley continues to find time for theatre whenever and wherever she can.
“Say yes to every opportunity. I realized that any experience within the industry that you feel passionate about is good experience,” Mobley said.
Originally, Mobley did not see herself as a producer. Now she loves her job and encourages others to be open to diverse opportunities, since these might really change their perceptions about what types of careers they’re interested in.
