From gaining two degrees and a Mini-MBA, to previously working as a marketing communications consultant for the Rutgers Division of Continuing Studies, and consistently attending alumni and sporting events, it’s clear that Charles Wasilewski MCM’26 “can’t get enough of Rutgers.”

Once again returning to his alma mater in 2020, Wasilewski is currently a Master of Communication and Media (MCM) student at SC&I and is applying his knowledge, as well as his love for writing, marketing, and communications, to his career as a business writer and media relations professional specializing in insurance at Aartrijk, a public relations firm that specializes in insurance marketing.

Wasilewski has worked at Aartrijk for 19 years and he focuses on developing articles and pitches, with the firm’s many insurance clients. Last year alone, he was able to pitch 80 stories, writing 25 of them as bylined articles for clients. His career passions include helping “other business people define and deliver key messages to people they care about,” he said.

In addition to working and being a student, Wasilewski is very active in his community. He served as the president and was on the volunteer board for Middle Earth, a non-profit youth services organization, as well as volunteering for Nourish (formerly Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown), and coaching youth soccer.

Wasilewski started his Rutgers journey as an English major and economics minor at Rutgers College. During his undergraduate years from 1980 to 1984, he was heavily involved as a sports writer for The Daily Targum and covered men’s soccer, football, and track and field.

He then went on to receive a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers Business School (then named Rutgers Graduate School of Management) in 1994, and a Mini-MBA certificate in Social Media Marketing in 2016.

Although he started his career in retail management, he missed his time writing, which he consistently did at Rutgers. In fact, Wasilewski’s interests in both business and journalism were fueled by taking the class Writing for Business and the Professions during his initial studies.

He still wanted to return to Rutgers many years into his career for the MCM program because he wanted to further his “practical skills and knowledge about digital media and marketing.”

He discussed how going back to school after many years can be difficult, so he strives to find motivation and inspiration to help him, and SC&I has succeeded in that.

Wasilewski said he has had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people who can help him learn new things during his studies. Although he says that many professors at SC&I have impacted him, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Mark Beal is a standout.

He described Beal as a “networking partner for life,” and further added, “He inspired me to tap more into enthusiasm and generosity because he himself is just that way. And he will do many things to support students and colleagues.”

In Beal’s PR History course, Wasilewkski learned about the PESO model (Paid, Earned, Shared, Owned) of media for public relations, marketing, and branding. Wasilewski said this model has been important in analyzing business clients’ needs and developing communications strategies.

Other courses that Wasilewski has enjoyed are Digital Media Research with Associate Professor Caitlin Petre, Media Law with Associate Dean for Programs and Professor Susan Keith, and Digital Media Production with Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Neal Bennett.

Wasilewski said the MCM program has made him more analytical when it comes to using communication tools, and he feels more prepared to create content for his clients.

He stressed the importance of networking for current and prospective students, and how SC&I has introduced him to many new people. He specifically mentioned how he thinks he met more people when he was a student of Beal’s in just one semester compared to any other class he’s taken in his academic career.

“Networking starts now, your peer students can not only be alongside you right now in the classroom, but you may know them in 20 years. Don’t miss an opportunity to know them better now,” he said.

He encourages students to reach out to people to ask for help because they can gain knowledge and career insight.

“You have to advocate for yourself and learn and your fellow students are an incredible resource to do that,” he said.

For Wasilewski, it’s vital to utilize these sources and connections, because of how much diversity and support he sees within Rutgers. After all, that is just one of the reasons why Rutgers continues to be a constant in his life.

Learn more about the Master of Communication and Media Program on the Rutgers School of Communication and Information website.