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Khaleya Linton-Smellie: Pursuing her Passion and Finding her Style
By Lauren McLuckie
Khaleya's hometown: Pickering, On.
With an interest in advertising and a flair for innovation, MACS student Khaleya Linton-Smellie is blending critical thinking with creativity and working hard to shape her future.
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From a young age, Khaleya Linton-Smellie has been interested in advertising.
“When I was younger, I enjoyed ads and commercials and understanding how they’re made,” she says. As she got older, her interests expanded to include not just how advertisements are made, but also what makes them effective. She also pondered the broader implications of media on society. It was this curiosity that led her to the Media and Communication Studies (MACS) program offered by the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University.
Now a fourth-year student in MACS, Khaleya enjoys the versatility of the program. With a passion for advertising and a sharp mind for media analysis, she sees advertising as more than just creative storytelling, it’s an opportunity to think critically about media, messaging and impact.
“What I love most about the MACS program is that it’s more critical than your average media and communications program,” she explains. “Not only do we talk about how you critically examine and create advertising, but also what it means, how it can affect you, and how to make good content.”
Through her coursework, Khaleya has developed a deeper understanding of media and the ways in which the advertising industry works to influence audiences. She is especially interested in using that knowledge to craft her own advertisements that are not only persuasive but also responsible and engaging.
This commitment to responsible advertising pushed Khaleya to seek real-world experience where she could contribute to meaningful projects. When she enrolled in the FIMS Internship Program for the Winter 2025 term and landed an online placement with DAR Proyectos, a sustainable rock and gemstone décor company located in Peru, she saw it as the perfect opportunity to put her skills into action and pursue her passion.
As a marketing intern, she was responsible for writing copy, developing social media campaigns and working with social media influencers to expand the company’s reach.
Fun Fact
Khaleya loves baking and making sweet treats for her friends and family.
“Being able to apply the skills I’m learning in the classroom and create more responsible advertisements because I have that knowledge has been really eye-opening and rewarding,” she says.
For Khaleya, creativity is also part of how she connects with her community. As the Creative Director for the Black Students’ Association (BSA) at Western, she is responsible for shaping the association’s visual identity, overseeing their social media accounts and leading major events.
One of her most rewarding projects was directing and executing the BSA’s annual fashion show in November 2024. “Seeing something that I had in my mind, physically in front of me was insane but also amazing,” she says.
As Khaleya looks to the future, she is eager to keep growing, whether that is through another marketing internship this summer or by taking time to explore new places. Once she graduates, she envisions herself working at a boutique marketing agency, where she can continue crafting creative and meaningful content. However, she is also keeping her options open. “If I don’t find something I like, I want to travel and see the world,” she says.
Wherever she goes next, Khaleya is ready to make an impact.
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Profiles in the Meet Our Students section are written by students in the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program, who are enrolled in MMJC 9604 - Professional Writing.
