In spring 2020, Nick Yacenko was both a full-time student studying communication at Rutgers University–Newark and a full-time bartender. He planned to graduate and pursue a position at a PR agency in New York City; then, the pandemic happened. He lost his job and finished his senior year on Zoom. There was no graduation ceremony, he was unable to complete his internship, and no one wanted to hire him for an entry-level remote position. Fast-forward to 2022, and Nick’s world is a lot brighter. He earned his Master of Communication and Media (MCM) degree at SC&I and is working as an assistant account executive at Bospar, an award-winning international tech PR firm. He shared his story with us.

SC&I: Tell us about your undergrad experience and what led you to pursue the MCM.

NY: I’ve always loved to tell stories and dig into new and intriguing topics, but I didn’t know how or where to apply my interests. When I took an undergraduate Intro to PR course, I realized that this is what I wanted to do. When I couldn’t secure a position in the summer of 2020, I decided to take advantage of the forced downtime by pursuing my master’s degree at SC&I. Because the MCM program allowed for asynchronous, remote learning, I was able to hone my public relations, communication, and professional development skills and complete two full-time internships while earning my degree. Getting the MCM was a great decision.

SC&I: Describe the career path you took once you graduated.

NY: In fall 2020, I interned on the social media team of a startup relationship app to maximize my social media knowledge before getting an internship with The Chamber Group, a boutique celebrity PR agency. This led to a full-time role at BML Public Relations as an account coordinator. It was an entry-level role but marked my start. I worked at BML for about nine months before moving to my current position as an assistant account executive at Bospar.

SC&I: What MCM skills can you apply to your current career?

NY: The MCM courses allowed me to build on my foundational knowledge and think differently. I started hearing terms such as stakeholder and ROI that I had never heard before. When I got to my role at an agency, they were constant. Courses such as Dynamics of Global Organizations with Teaching Professor Richard Dool, International PR with Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Communication Mark Beal, and Political Communication and Social Change with Associate Teaching Professor of Communication Nikolaos Linardopoulos helped me see different points of view, learn more about people, and escape the bubble I’ve lived in for much of my life. Other courses helped me understand the communication world and develop professionally. Overall, the MCM program allowed me to define myself and the professional I want to be while exposing me to new thoughts, ideas, perspectives, and skills.

SC&I: Did you benefit from studying with any particular instructors?

NY: Two faculty members had a significant impact on me. Mark Beal is a tremendous professor, mentor, and friend. He taught me so much, worked with me on my resume, connected me with his friends in the industry, and helped me prepare for interviews and find new positions. He went above and beyond, and I am so grateful to him. Richard Dool, director of the MCM program, helped me in my last-minute decision to attend SC&I and supported me when I was having personal issues. Dr. Dool is thoughtful, compassionate, and helpful—he really made the experience worthwhile.

SC&I: What are your future career goals?  

NY: I imagine myself working for a nonprofit so I can achieve my goal of helping others. I can bring awareness to problems and topics I am passionate about by using the skills I learned at SC&I—how to be a leader and a professional who can think creatively and craft a strong message.

SC&I: What advice do you have for anyone considering pursuing the MCM?

NY: If you genuinely are passionate about communication and all that entails, the program is well worth it. The MCM provides you with world-class learning and helps prepare you to achieve and succeed at your dream job. This program helped me be the best version of myself. My last piece of advice is to go at your own pace. There is no rush—everyone is on a different timeline, and you should never compare yourself to others.

Photo: Courtesy of Nick Yacenko MCM’21, COM’20