From corporate communications to production companies to television news, former student interns in DePaul's
Office of Public Relations and Communications have gone on to excel in multiple career tracks. For many of those interns, their professional writing and multimedia experience starts with DePaul Newsline. We caught up with a few alumni to find out what they have been up to since graduation.
Brandon Davis, Executive and Internal Communications Intern, Fall 2013
Brandon Davis (center) joined CNA in 2014 and now leads the company's strategic public relations, media affairs, social media and corporate social responsibility initiatives and activities. (Photo courtesy of CNA)From a program that
helps low-income students stay in school to a class about
romance novels, Brandon Davis (BA,
Public Relations and Advertising, '14) wrote about a variety of topics for Newsline. "Having a solid writing foundation will propel you into any career, which is critical for communications-focused roles at an organization - big or small," he says.
After graduating, Davis joined CNA's corporate communications department as a content coordinator. He primarily focused on IT for the business and personal insurance agency. When a leadership position opened up to oversee media affairs for CNA, a 7,000-person company, Davis jumped at the opportunity. He is now the director of public relations and corporate social responsibility for CNA. His advice for current students?
"Bring your passion to work with you each and every day so that you stand out from the crowd," he says. "That's particularly important when you're in a large organization and want to excel."
Savannah Fish, Executive and Internal Communications Intern, Fall 2014
"Writing for Newsline was my first internship. Seeing my byline was a great feeling," Fish says. "I will always remember that."
Fish is now a multimedia journalist for 7&4 News in Traverse City, Michigan. A typical day for her means turning over two to three stories for the evening newscasts. "At 10:30 a.m. I pitch story ideas, or I already have assignments. Then I schedule interviews for that morning and afternoon, shoot my B-Roll, write the scripts, edit and send it off," Fish says.
Fish's accomplishments didn't come without hard work. "If this is your dream you have to work for it," she says. "People working as anchors and TV reporters in New York, L.A., and Chicago did not start there. If you work hard and push yourself, you will make it."
Natalie Mayen, Strategic Communications Intern, Winter 2015
Natalie Mayen currently works as an assistant account executive at the global public relations agency Hill + Knowlton Strategies. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Mayen)Interning in the office was a valuable experience for Natalie Mayen (MA, Public Relations and Advertising, '16), who worked on communications projects ranging from honorary degrees and commencement to a Newsline article about the Inspiration Cafe.
Shortly after Mayen's internship, she secured a fellowship at the global public relations agency Hill + Knowlton Strategies. Today, Mayen is an assistant account executive at the agency. As a member of their consumer marketing team, she currently works on a number of food and tourism accounts.
"Be open-minded and excited," Mayen advises. "You never know where an opportunity will take you, and every opportunity is a learning experience."