Emilia Sferrazza: Learning to lead by example

Winter 2026

By Chloe Vanderlugt

Emilia's hometown: Vaughan, Ontario

After struggling to find her footing in the early years of university, Emilia Sferrazza has transformed her challenges into leadership, mentorship and a passion for helping other MACS students build confidence in their own paths.

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When Emilia Sferrazza arrived as a new Media & Communication Studies student on Western’s campus in 2023, she was excited to start her new adventure. She knew adjusting to university life might take some time. She moved from her family home in Toronto to the on-campus Perth Hall Residence in London, Ontario, met new people at every turn, and initially struggled to adapt to the demands of her early coursework in MACS.

But now heading into her fourth year, Emilia has turned those early challenges into success as she prepares to begin her appointment as the elected president of the MACS Students’ Council for the 2026/2027 year.

Emilia has built a strong presence across the faculty community since 2023, getting involved in many different initiatives and extracurricular activities. She has held previous roles with the MACSSC in each year, joined Mustangs TV as crew, served as a Residence Programming Assistant Soph, and taken on student leadership and mentorship roles that have helped shape both her confidence and passion for storytelling.

Though she just wrapped up a year as the council’s Vice-President Academic, being successful as President of the MACS Students’ Council will be her biggest challenge yet. But Emilia says she’s ready for it.

“I knew from September that this role was something I wanted to run for,” she says.

Fun Fact

Emilia once considered being a veterinarian before pursuing Media and Communication Studies (MACS) at Western.

Her motivation is to help students feel more confident exploring careers in media and communications. As President, Emilia hopes to expand networking and career-focused opportunities in the faculty. Recalling her own early struggles, she also wants to make sure that students in their first few years have the support they need to succeed both socially and academically.

Back in high school, Emilia explored both science and creative subjects, considering careers like veterinary medicine or dentistry while also developing an interest in media and communications courses. It was classes that required her to use Photoshop and learn audio production that really sparked her interest in pursuing a creative field.

Entering university, Emilia at first envisioned hands-on broadcasting and media production courses. Instead, her early years introduced her to the theoretical foundations of media studies, including philosophy, sociology and the political economy of media, and required lots of reading and essay writing. Opportunities to learn how to create media came later, but the foundation she started with helped broaden her understanding of the power of media and storytelling.

"You will fall down and struggle - but if you keep going, it will all be worth it" - Emilia Sferrazza

While the transition was difficult at first, Emilia says learning those foundational components ultimately shaped the way she understands media today. She credits professors and campus resources with helping build her confidence.

“Using resources and connecting with professors helped me so much,” she says.

It’s one of the reasons she also signed up to be a Media Student Leadership Coach, through a program offered by FIMS. As an upper year student, she helps new MACS students navigate the demanding, required first-year course Introduction to Media, Information and Technoculture.

In the role, Emilia and other student leaders create sessions focused on time management, wellness and study strategies designed to help first-year students succeed academically and adjust to university life.

Having once struggled in the same course herself, Emilia says mentoring new students has become one of the most rewarding parts of her university experience.

“Seeing the impact of the sessions and being able to give that back to students is the best part,” she says.

This summer, Emilia is working as a Communications & Design Intern with Manulife. It is another opportunity to gain professional skills and make networking connections before graduating with her degree and entering the workforce full-time. As she prepares to lead the MACS Students’ Council through her final year, Emilia hopes to help students who may be facing the same doubts she once had.

For students entering the program, her advice is simple: trust the process.

“You will fall down and struggle - that’s normal,” she says. “But if you keep going, it will all be worth it.”

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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 - Corporate Communications.