Lauren Materia

School/Division	Division of Communication & Creative Media
Class	2022
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Massachusetts

Specialization

Public Relations, Event Management

What do you like about the Communication major?

Ilove being a part of major-related clubs and organizations. I am the Vice President of the PRSSA chapter here at Champlain College, and I am also the Media Relations Account Executive for Maple Street Media, which is the student-run PR firm at Champlain College. Both of these leadership positions have helped me develop my two-way communication skills and collaboration skills with working with other team members. I have been able to have this real-world experience through both of these groups, which have been absolutely amazing.

Have you worked on-campus in either a part-time or work-study position?

Yes, I am a CCM Peer Coach and I also work for Champlain Marketing as the Student Public Relations Coordinator. I have learned so many useful skills in these positions. As a CCM Peer Coach, I have learned how to be a helping hand to students like myself. My tasks include grading résumés and LinkedIn profiles, crafting cover letters with students, helping out with events such as the Game of Life and Sophomore Summit, and also just helping students with their career readiness skills (mock interviews, navigating handshake, etc.). In my Public Relations Coordinator role, I help write, pitch, and distribute news releases using traditional media, social media, email, and other digital channels. I also monitor online references to Champlain College, develop content for the college’s news pages, and contribute to The View. Another aspect of this role includes creating and updating media contact lists, researching PR practices at other colleges, organizing photo resources, monitoring social media, and creating newsletters.

How has your Champlain experience prepared you for your future career, both in and out of the classroom?

Since day one, I have felt that Champlain College has prepared me for the real world outside of the classroom. I especially feel this way because Champlain College has the Career Collaborative and the InSight program, which set up all the students from their first semester to feel as prepared for the real world as possible as an undergraduate student. You are able to learn about personal finances and career readiness right away, which got me into the young professional mindset for thinking about how I will navigate independently after graduation.