By Lenore Devore, B.S. Journalism 1984
Amy Araya is a first-generation American and college graduate, a gregarious woman who leaned on her Latina heritage as she headed to the University of Florida to study public relations. Now, she relies heavily on what she learned at the College of Journalism and Communications (CJC) in her current role as associate principal counsel for The Walt Disney Co.’s National Geographic.
In fact, she uses the writing and fact-finding skills she learned from Journalism Professor Mike Foley and other CJC professors every day.
“He sparked the curiosity in me on how I viewed story-telling and proper fact-checking,” said the 2008 CJC Public Relations graduate. “It is incredibly relevant in my work in television law. I still smile inside when I ask producers for credible primary and secondary sources for my review. I poignantly remember sitting in Foley’s class and he was really questioning the source – primary and secondary. He would dock us heavily if we made a mistake in our submitted assignments, but he also treated reporting as recognition of humanity, the human side of things.”
Araya grew up in Miami to a Costa Rican father and Dominican mother. While her parents wholeheartedly supported her decision to attend college, they were limited in the guidance they could provide.
“Being Latina is a fundamental part of my identity,” she said. “Growing up in a working-class family influenced my future and how I navigated college. When I was accepted, I realized I lacked the cultural capital that many of my peers had, which led to an identity crisis. I was trying to figure out where I fit in. To bridge that gap, I widened the net of people I turned to for support.”
Over time, she found her peer group and became a Cicerone, UF’s official student ambassadors.
“I had to be extra proactive and intentional in seeking out the information that many of my peers had easy access to. It was a challenging experience, but it also helped me recognize and embrace the strengths that come with my culture. I’m part of a vibrant, dynamic, passionate community– we make friends with ease. In the end, I learned to lean into that and turn it into an advantage.”
At CJC, she started in broadcasting but quickly realized she didn’t like broadcasting hours, especially 2 a.m. wake-up calls.
“I found myself gravitating toward roles that allowed me time to carefully craft statements and refine my phrasing. I enjoyed planning and writing press releases. I liked learning how different companies functioned, telling the story of a company while still learning about it.”
Although she spoke fluent Spanish, she minored in the language to learn how to write it correctly so she could intern and later work for Hispanic American companies.
CJC provided a holistic approach, something she appreciates to this day. “I never felt I couldn’t do something. Everyone was so encouraging.”
While reviewing case studies in one PR class, she found one from the Ketchum agency. A professor suggested that because she had learned so much about Ketchum, she should apply for an internship with it. “To have her say you can just reach out and do it, I did, and I ended up having interviews with this amazing PR company.”
Professors also told her she needed to stand out. So, after the interview, during which they spoke about pizza, she took matters into her own hands.
“I looked up the nearest pizza place (to her office in New York), and I called them. I barely had any money, but I asked them if they could please deliver a pizza, and I will tip you an extra $10, and that was a lot for me back then, to include a note that says, ‘It was so wonderful speaking to you. Please enjoy this pizza as much as I enjoyed our conversation.’ I ended up getting an offer.”
Araya later worked with the foreign affairs team at Ketchum and loved it, “but realized there were larger issues, and to really effectuate change required access to the legal structure. So, to better influence the framework behind the words, that’s when I decided to go to law school.”
She went to law school at the University of Miami, interning at Yahoo!, where the work expanded on the technical writing, she learned at UF and further cemented her love for intellectual property (IP) law.
After law school, Araya assisted Judge Jimmie Reyna of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the first Latino judge appointed to the court. The Federal Circuit is the only federal appellate court with nationwide jurisdiction over cases involving patents, IP and international trade.
After that, Araya handled patent litigation for complex electrical and mechanical devices and processes at one of the world’s largest law firms, DLA Piper. “I could translate a patent for a client in a manner that differed from how engineers might explain it. I like to think my background in journalism and PR helped me break down complex ideas and make them more accessible.”
She loved drafting cases but not litigating. She knew it was time to go back in-house. Yahoo! put her in touch with HBO Latin America, which had an opening in Miami. There, she handled cross-border production agreements, high-level talent negotiations, and full legal clearance of television programs, including a localized format of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”
“That was a lot of fun, trying to calibrate risk across different international jurisdictions while ensuring the writers maintain their creative liberties. As a lawyer on the project, you never want to be the one constantly saying NO and taking away from that creative license.”
She went on to work for MTV before becoming in-house counsel for Prime Video & Amazon Studios. But she wanted to be closer to family on the East Coast, so she started interviewing with Disney.
“The head of NatGeo Legal made it clear that at Disney National Geographic, we as people come first. She said, ‘You and your health and your being come first, and I want to see you succeed.’”
She handles development and production legal for Disney National Geographic’s original series and documentary programs produced by third-party production companies, managing legal policies, negotiating service and talent agreements, and advising on legal issues during all stages of production.
She’s reconnecting with the CJC to share her experiences, mentor students and encourage others to follow their dreams. She recently spoke at CJC’s Becoming a Woman of Influence leadership symposium and wants to keep in touch with the students she met there.
“All it takes is one person to give you that inspiration to take those additional steps,” she said. “I hope to pay it forward for students the same way the professors did for me.”
Her advice to today’s graduates:
- Stay curious. “Through curiosity, you will be exposed to so many different opinions, possibilities and approaches that will help you shape your path. Throughout that journey, be humble. Recognize that learning from others is a privilege; to hear their stories is a privilege.”
- Don’t be afraid to fail. “Finding out early on that something isn’t for you is just as valuable as finding out what is. It’s OK to pivot.”
- Seek mentorships. “Pursue opportunities. Take all the internships. Immerse yourself in the experience.”
Araya said her biggest success is loving what she does. “I wake up every day excited about what the day is going to bring. No two days are the same. Every contract feels like a puzzle to solve, and even the simplest email reflects the training I received at CJC.”
