Candace Griffin (MCMA, RT, 07) is presently working as hard as she possibly

can at Viacom Media Networks; BET Networks. She is listed as a

Contractor/Consultant; Supervising Producer Event Producer Editor for
the BET network, where she has worked since 2009. During her time at SIUC,
Ms. Griffin was equally busy, as a producer and editor at WSIU-TV. In addition
to her degree in Radio & Television Production, she also minored in English,
Creative Writing and Black American Studies. One of her signature
accomplishments was her work, during her senior year at SIUC, in creating
and directing an award-winning documentary, Got Purpose? Her stated
purpose in initiating this project was interviewing a range of her peers about
critical topics in hopes of finding a cure to mediocrity. The documentary also
includes reflections by the hip-hop artist and actor, Common; the
internationally known writer Sam Greenlee (author of The Spook Who Sat by
the Door); noted clergy-activist, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright; and radio
personality, Tony Sculfield. Candace Griffin included in this film comments
and challenges from a wide-range of SIUC alumni also. Not for a class, but for
an urgent need, Got Purpose is a great example of what an SIUC student
can do with encouragement and support.
After her time on the SIUC campus, she worked for two years in Chicago as a
writer/producer and intern supervisor for the Weigel Broadcasting Company
before joining BET in 2009. Candace Griffin, a firm believer that education
should prepare a person to be an agent of transformation in society,
continues to volunteer, lecture, present workshops and mentor young people
to believe in themselves and to develop all of their talents.