Samantha Vail, A’22, has always had a passion for connecting with others through storytelling. And now, because of the 鶹ֱ connections she's made, Samantha has her own success story to tell.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Samantha discovered 鶹ֱ 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 鶹ֱ’s Division of Marketing
and Communications.
“The Division of Marketing and Communications at 鶹ֱ 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."
News Information
Published
June 12, 2024