Alyssa Pernice MCM’23 is an account supervisor at BCW, a multinational public relations and communications firm headquartered in New York City. She recently fulfilled her long-time goal of obtaining a master’s degree by completing the Master of Communication and Media (MCM) program at Rutgers School of Communication and Information. She aced the program, finishing with a 4.0 GPA while working full-time, and shared her experiences with us.

SC&I: What enticed you to enter the MCM program at SC&I?

AP: Since graduating from Stockton University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and minors in business studies and writing, I have been pursuing a public relations (PR) career path, specifically, in PR agencies for both business-to-consumer and business-to-business brands. After gaining a few years of full-time experience working in the field, I was ready to level up both in terms of my education and my PR skills, leading me to apply to the MCM program. I enrolled in the program as a part-time student while continuing to work a full-time job, and during my time as a graduate student, I was able to apply my learning in real time.

SC&I: How did you apply your classroom learning at work?

AP: As an account supervisor at a PR agency, I specialize in executive visibility and media relations for clients in our corporate affairs practice across a variety of sectors, including finance, supply chain, pharmaceuticals, and more. In this role, my work supports the external and internal presence of corporate leaders, including securing media interviews and coverage, developing communications plans, and managing their social media presence. As I move into projects that require more strategic thinking, my time at SC&I enabled me to think more critically and from a higher level. I aim to ask the right questions when starting a new campaign, even if they are challenging ones, I find ways to champion the importance of PR and communications in an organization, and I look to identify the “big picture” of campaigns, or how they map back to goals. Taking a combination of courses that were related to the work I was doing at BCW while also learning skills I hadn’t yet needed in my career ultimately helped me grow as a professional.

SC&I: What classes or faculty members had the most impact on your learning?

AP: Kristen Koehler, a lecturer in the MCM program and owner of a PR and communication management firm, is an outstanding instructor who made the program very valuable for me. I took multiple courses with her, including PR Strategy and PR Management, where she often reflected on her in-depth, real-world experiences working in communications. Koehler always provided thoughtful feedback and assigned projects that gave students the freedom to explore topics and industries that appealed to us.

SC&I: What career advice would you like to share with prospective or current students?

AP: When you work in the PR field, it is critical to keep on top of new and emerging skills that you can apply in any situation as you help your organization or clients navigate today’s unique and complex issues. Take advantage of the MCM program's opportunities to tailor your experience to the topics that interest you while also branching out to new areas. Taking a combination of courses that were related to the work I was doing at BCW while also learning skills I hadn’t yet needed in my career ultimately helped me grow as a professional.