Network of Support: Duquesne Connections Set Up Grad for Early Success

A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Samantha discovered Duquesne University was the place for her after visiting campus for the first time. “I knew I could quickly find a home within campus and the city of Pittsburgh,” she said.

Majoring in integrated marketing communication through the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts, Samantha jumped right into the various career-related experiences Duquesne offered and began building a strong network of support and connections.

Throughout her time at Duquesne, she was a member of the American Marketing Association and the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, as well as public relations chair for Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority. Samantha also completed valuable internships with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mindful Kreative agency and Duquesne University’s Division of Marketing and Communications.

“The Division of Marketing and Communications at Duquesne University set me up for success in more ways than I can count,” remarked Samantha, who assisted the division with projects focused on media relations, social media, web and more.

“Having the opportunity to work with the DMC team and build relationships with these seasoned professionals significantly enhanced my skills,” she added.

It was through this opportunity that Samantha landed her first position after graduation as a project manager.

“Duquesne's VP of Marketing and Communications, Gabriel Welsch, connected me to my first employer, Ronin Advertising Group, where I worked as a project manager for a year and a half. The agency experience I obtained catapulted me to advance to my current role as an account executive at Red Sage Communications,” she explained.

Samantha also credits her horizon-expanding marketing, advertising and public relations coursework at Duquesne—including the many case studies, class projects and papers she worked on—for helping her build a strong portfolio and preparing her for bigger goals.

Going full circle, Samantha now proudly helps connect current Duquesne students to job opportunities in her field, reaching out to them on LinkedIn and checking in with the DMC team.

“It’s deeply rewarding to pay it forward and give back to the community who nurtured my growth and success," she noted.

Samantha added: “Duquesne equipped me with the skills and resources to confidently enter the workforce and seek opportunities that enrich my professional life. My time at Duquesne and in Pittsburgh has shaped me into the person I am today."