Jacqueline Ruegger
Jacqueline Ruegger is the senior PR/Communication leader at Monroe College shares her unexpected journey into public relations (PR) and the significance of working for small firms in her career development. Ruegger, a first-generation college student, fell into PR without a clear plan, starting her career at a concession stand near Six Flags Great Adventure. She later discovered her affinity for communication and writing but lacked professional experience. After graduating, she secured a three-month externship with a small PR firm, which led to an entry-level position. Her boss mentored her and allowed her to explore various aspects of PR, preparing her for future roles and helping her advance faster than she might have in a larger firm.
Ryan Stolz
PR Manager, Fanatics
In this episode, Evan sits down with Ryan Stolz, MCM graduate and PR Manager for Fanatics. Ryan takes us through his career journey, interning for a diverse array of companies, and how that took him to full-time roles at Fleishman-Hillard and Fanatics. He details his favorite parts of the job, what skills are necessary to succeed in his field, and gives impactful advice to aspiring PR professionals.
Danielle Montana
Danielle Montana, Vice President at Peppercomm, discusses her career journey in public relations, from being a community college transfer student to her current position. She shares how her passion for communications led her to apply to over a hundred places, eventually landing an internship with the New York City Triathlon. Montana emphasizes the importance of gaining diverse experiences and building a strong skill set to succeed in PR. She also highlights the significance of networking and maintaining professional relationships throughout one’s career, sharing personal experiences of former clients and colleagues becoming bosses or references. Montana advises students to focus on gaining real-world experience and working hard to stand out in the industry, concluding that while grades matter, they are not the only factor in career success.
Grace Lewis
Grace Lewis, a podcast producer and account executive at Market Performance Group, discusses her diverse career journey in this YouTube video segment. Inspired by her love for storytelling through public relations (PR) and journalism, she started a podcast. However, after graduation, she had to choose between New Zealand and America for her first job. With guidance from a mentor, she pivoted from PR to marketing and began her career as an account executive at Market Performance Group. Her role has since evolved, allowing her to work on various accounts.
Naamah Barbut
Naamah works at one of the leading international PR firms. She communicates about different ways of connecting with folks like a coffee date or getting nails done together as a business meeting.
Katelyn Reardon
Katelyn shares her journey from creating an internship to working at a big PR firm.She speaks about how she created her first social media internship at Thomas Sweets. She went from scooping ice-cream to managing the ice cream shop’s social media. She shares how taking initiative has made a difference for her.
Brittany Castellanos
Brittany Castellanos was passionate about sports but along her journey, she discovered the importance of work-life balance and created her career in that fashion. Plus, she speaks about the importance of research and writing skills in PR. These are two skills that are very important in PR. She developed the skills in her program. She talk more about honing the skills in this interview.
Devaansheeka Khanore
Public Relations & Content Specialist, Social Wise Communications
Devan Khanore is a Rutgers graduate from Rutgers University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, specializing in Strategic Public Communication and Public Relations, Leadership in Organizations and Community, and minoring in Digital Communications Information and Media (DCIM). Here we get to learn a little more about what it is like to transition from an intern to a full-time role with Dev’s career journey. She currently works as a Public Relations & Content Specialist at Social Wise Communications.
Kristina Amaral-Salas
Director of Analytics/Integrated Intelligence (PR)
Kristina Amaral-Salas is a Rutgers SC&I alumnus, with a distinguished career intersecting Public Relations and Data Analytics. Kristina started her career on the account side at a PR agency now known as Taylor Strategy. During her time, Kristina found she had a developing passion for Data Analytics and working with the strategy teams. This led her to pivoting her career to reach strategy roles and cultivate that passion for data analytics. Kristina has worked at UniWorld Group, MWWPR, Ketchum, and now serves as the Director of Integrated Intelligence at Real Chemistry.
Sam Brancato
Account Executive at Violet PR
With a love of creating and amplifying special moments, Sam transitioned into PR following an internship with The Walt Disney Company in 2018. Through a series of internships for agencies including Coyne PR, Sam has worked on public relations projects for brands including CeraVe, TUMS, Alka-Seltzer and Peeps. Sam holds a B.A. in Communication/Public Relations and a B.A. in English from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, where she graduated magna cum laude. She was a member of Lambda Pi Eta, Sigma Alpha Pi and Rutgers Residence Life. She also worked for Rutgers Student Centers and Activities’ marketing department, where she gained experience in event photography and social media campaigns. Sam also created and taught her own class on Communication while a senior at Rutgers, on behalf of the Rutgers Career Exploration and Success program.
Victoria Musso
PR Manager
Victoria graduated Rutgers SC&I in 2016 with a major in Journalism & Media Studies and double minor in Psychology and Digital Communications, Information & Media. Since graduating, Victoria has worked across various PR agencies, from boutique to mid-sized, working with celebrity chefs and acclaimed restaurants, major food brands such as GODIVA and Focus Brands Restaurant Group (Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s), and consumer tech brands, including Google, YouTube, Tinder and more.
Combining her passion for food and interest in consumer tech brands, Victoria is currently the PR Manager at HelloFresh where she executes buzzy campaigns and leads the ongoing news engine programs across HelloFresh’s growing brand portfolio, including HelloFresh, Green Chef, EveryPlate and Factor.
Dylan McNulty
Senior Account Coordinator, Taft Communications
Dylan McNulty is a Rutgers graduate from 2021 with a Bachelors of Arts in Communication, specializing in Strategic Public Communication and Public Relations. Dylan works as the Senior Account Coordinator for Taft Communications. Here we get to learn a little more what it is like to transition from being an intern to a full time role and working your way up.