Josh Griffin '09

Account Executive at Butler/Till

"I am currently an Account Executive at Butler/Till, a media buying and planning agency here in Rochester.  I work on a national, B2C (business-to-consumer) telecommunications account handling campaign planning and assisting with strategy development. I manage two small-to-mid sized campaigns autonomously and assist my team on larger projects.

My role also allows me to work with many different groups of people: I interact with media planners, buyers, account directors, staff at our partner creative agencies, and clients.  The piece of my job that I most enjoy is developing the strategy that acts as a campaign’s foundation.  I love taking a client’s input on their marketing objectives and identifying a strategy that will help reach that goal.

Nazareth absolutely helped me to build the foundation for a career in advertising. I credit Rhetoric I and II with sparking the initial interest in advertising.  The analysis and discussion of effective persuasion was my first introduction to the strategy that goes into any type of communication.  In terms of practical skills, Technical Writing and Advertising Design helped me to hone project management and timeline development skills, along with technical proficiency in writing and design—all invaluable skills in an industry that is non-stop.

Lastly, the Communications program’s requirement of an internship was central to gaining real-world experience.  I completed internships at the Ad Council of Rochester, Partners + Napier, and ABVI Goodwill.  The three organizations are very different, and the experiences gave me a sense of the career possibilities in marketing.  Additionally, they allowed me to network and establish a foundation within the advertising community.  Even three years in to my career, my former internship supervisors are a source of guidance and mentoring. "

Heather Butterfield '09

Publishing Associate at Smart Pop Books

"I'm a publishing associate at Smart Pop, an imprint of BenBella Books. My time is divided between editorial and marketing tasks, and I also maintain the Smart Pop site. The best part of my job: since we publish pop culture titles, I get to read and watch a lot of TV and say it's for work! We do a lot with properties that people are really passionate about (think Hunger Games and Buffy the Vampire Slayer), so it's always gratifying to share that excitement with fellow fans.

I didn't know when I started my degree that I wanted to go into publishing; I was just passionate about literature and books, and was excited that the major allowed me to take English courses while also getting more "practical" experience with writing and graphic design. It prepared me well for pursuing my Master's in publishing, and communicating effectively with others turned out to be vital to my job, whether I'm writing an editorial letter or drafting a pitch.

My internship at the Naz marketing and communications department was one of the most valuable parts of my college experience. I discovered how much I enjoyed editing while there, got to practice my graphic design skills, and also experienced an office environment for the first time. "

Danielle Crino '09

Marketing Coordinator

"As the sole marketer for the company, I take lead on all projects concerning lead generation, event planning, website development, social media marketing, graphic design, and public relations. I like that every day is different since I wear so many different hats for the company.
I cannot stress enough that internships are vital to gaining experience and landing a job in the tough job market. I completed five internships at Nazareth. The internship experiences, along with classroom learning, helped me gain the knowledge, experience, and confidence to get me to where I am today."

Mia Johnson '09

M.A. from Columbia University, Ph.D. student at Temple University

"In July 2010, I earned a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Inclusive Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In August 2012, I will be starting a doctoral program at Temple University in Urban Education, an interdisciplinary program that explores various aspects that shape urban education including urban studies, history, policy, sociology, and social justice. My Comm/Rhet major at Nazareth helped me become a better writer which is an essential skill for a graduate student. My ultimate career goal is to work in advocacy and/or policy working towards making education truly a great equalizer, especially for urban youth.

My Rhetoric courses and Speech and Society course were particularly beneficial to help me get into graduate school and perform well there because these courses improved my writing skills. I became more conscious of my target audience. As I began writing for an audience, my writing became more effective and purposeful."

Judith Sully '10

Social Media Analyst

"I currently work as a Social Media Analyst for AETEA Information Technology which is a nationwide recruiting company.  My role in the company is to generate more online traffic and gaining potential candidates for open job positions.  Overall, I creatively market and brand the company digitally. In addition, I must keep myself up to date on new social trends and networks that are relevant to the brand of the company and at the same time help/train recruiters to use these networks to pull in candidates as well. 

I love the type of work that I do because my line of work is seen as a revolutionary and non-traditional way of marketing. That being said, I have the opportunity of paving and building this field for the next generation.  Lastly, I love every opportunity that I get to communicate with people and make an unexpected and long lasting impact.

I hold my Communication and Rhetoric Major highly responsible for helping me meet my career goals. Every single course that I have taken in my major I have had the pleasure of using it at work and it has become a part of my lifestyle. One course in particular that helped me much was Persuasion.  While taking this course I learned a lot about campaign pitches, branding and public relations work.  Utilizing what I learned at Nazareth, over the past year, I was able to put together two professional campaign pitches that helped me to close deals. Overall, within my major every skill that was taught to me I am using today and will continue to do so for the rest of my career."

Emily Soule '10

M.A. student at Syracuse University

"I am currently a second-year graduate student in Syracuse University’s Communication and Rhetorical Studies Department. My research interests include cultural studies, rhetorical theory, popular culture, consumption, and narrative. During my first year in the program, I completed a research assistantship with a faculty member and was elected by my peers to operate as the graduate representative. I had the incredible opportunity to travel to the University of Copenhagen in Denmark with my Rhetoric and Global Citizenship course in the spring semester, where I studied with Danish rhetoric faculty and graduate students. I would like to continue my research in rhetorical theory and critical culture studies and after completing my PhD, I aspire to return to my undergraduate roots and find a faculty position at a small liberal arts college.

While studying at Nazareth College, I took a number of upper-division courses (Rhetoric of Popular Culture, Humor and Mass Communication, Communication Research Methods, Race & Ethnicity in the Media) with Dr. Carlnita Greene and Dr. Lisa Perks who were tremendously helpful in exposing me to communication and rhetoric theories that are now integral to my research. By selecting upper-division classes with faculty whose footsteps I aspire to follow, I was able to gain a better understanding of the field and foundational theory that I continue to work with in my graduate career.  Additionally, the faculty supported my pursuit of a Master’s in Communication and Rhetoric through invaluable guidance. They continue to be models of the type of professor I aspire to become in my field."