Defining Moments Led Matthew Baltimore, '16, to Embrace New Career Direction
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Former Huskie Football player Matthew Baltimore, '16, found his passion for marketing and video production while at NIU. (Photo: John Burns)
When NIU recruited Matthew Baltimore, ’16, to play football, he signed on, excited for the athletic and academic opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
However, in his third year as a Huskie, after suffering his fourth concussion—two during high school and two in college—Baltimore was forced to rethink his dream of playing football professionally.
“My experience in marketing and videography as an intern for NIU Athletics helped to reshape my pursuits,” Baltimore said. “Still, having played football most of my life, the shift to no longer being an athlete and pursuing my passion was challenging.”
Baltimore said NIU instilled in him the confidence to learn, grow and thrive in unfamiliar situations.
“That mindset ultimately led to my promotion into my current role, where I now apply my digital media skills in a unique and impactful way,” he said.
After college, Baltimore initially pursued digital media, but later transitioned to a sales role. This transition was difficult, but it gave him invaluable insights into the business and ultimately enabled him to advance into the pet digital education specialist role at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Today, he is back pursuing his passions for storytelling, content strategy and creative leadership.
"My journey is proof that a change in your career path doesn't have to mean the end of what you're passionate about or what you've studied," he said.
Baltimore works cross-functionally with marketing, sales and veterinary experts to ensure informative and engaging educational content. This includes scripting and producing training videos, coordinating with designers to enhance visual storytelling, or strategizing how to best deliver information through digital platforms. Baltimore also manages partnerships and training initiatives.
Baltimore is most proud of not his accomplishments but where he’s headed. He takes pride in the fact that he is continuously learning and pushing himself.
“I’m always learning and evolving in my role, and that’s what I love about it,” he said. “I’m always striving for growth through new challenges, evolving roles or continuing my education.”
Helping to refine his skills and expand his expertise, Baltimore is pursuing his master’s in strategic communications from Michigan State University. He says having a goal to reach keeps him motivated, and education has profoundly impacted his life.
“NIU equipped me with technical skills and invaluable life lessons,” Baltimore said. “Department of Communication Instructor Matt Swan was essential in helping me develop my scriptwriting skills and always appreciated my sense of humor, which made learning even more engaging. Media studies Associate Professor Randy Caspersen, on the other hand, gave me the technical foundation I needed to understand film production. What made both of them so impactful was their real-world experience. They weren’t just teaching theory—they had worked in the industry, which gave me something to look up to and strive for. Their guidance made it easier for me to listen, learn and apply those lessons to my own career.”
In addition to faculty, Baltimore said classmates helped him learn to adapt, collaborate and think critically. Working on group projects in media production classes offered unforgettable moments blending creativity, teamwork and hard work.
“I loved collaborating on scripts, bouncing ideas off each other, filming, and even those late-night editing sessions in the lab,” he said.
As a student, Baltimore was inspired by NIU alumnus Bill Weinman, who ignited a spark to look deeper to see what he could become. Baltimore hopes to pay it forward and encourage students and fellow Huskies to look beyond their initial dreams and explore the vast opportunities that lie ahead. He says NIU’s strong and engaging community is the best place to start.