It’s interesting that Gloria Cohen Shomo, ’08, pursued an electronic arts degree, since she didn’t see any movies as a child in a large Mennonite family. It wasn’t until college that she discovered a passion for film that inspired her to move to Los Angeles after graduation.

“At MSU I learned that regardless of my background, I would get where I wanted to go if I was willing to work hard to grow and learn.”

Her first film job was serving as a production assistant on Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” She went on to assist on “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol,” and has since worked as a visual effects coordinator on “Moneyball,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” and “Little Fockers.” She was part of the company that won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects in “Life of Pi.”

In her most recent projects, she was on production teams as a liaison between creative types (artists who animate characters, create models, light scenes, etc.) and supervisors who oversee a film’s artistic direction.

Why is Missouri State special to you?

It was in college that I found my love for technology and film, and I grew by leaps and bounds because of a well-rounded program and professors who encouraged creativity.

You moved to Hawaii to explore work opportunities and have a fresh start after beating breast cancer in 2012. What would you say to alumni fighting cancer?

Remember that this will pass and you CAN beat it. When you’re in the middle of treatments and surgeries, it seems like it is never going to end. But it will. Keep a positive outlook. Keep close with family and friends, because they are your biggest support system and they will help you get through this.

This year’s Homecoming theme was “Bears Forever.” Besides a Bear, what will you be forever?

True to my beliefs and my values — faith, integrity and honesty. That’s my core.

More about Gloria Cohen Shomo

Career: Freelance coordinator in the film industry;
member of the producers Guild of America

Residence: Honolulu, Hawaii

Family: Husband Chris Shomo, parents Phil and Gina Cohen; eight siblings