January Student of the Month

Meet Alyssa Fea, Humanities and Social Sciences Student of the Month

Hometown: Lincolnton, NC

Class: Senior

Major: Communication

Minor: Nonprofit Studies

Sample Courses:

• Public Relations Campaigns
• Nonprofit Leadership
• Media Writing

Activities:

• Public Relations Intern, American Red Cross of Raleigh, Spring 2015
• Resident Mentor, STATE Village (Living Learning Village for second year and transfer students), NC State Housing, 2014-15
• Marketing Coordinator, InSiteful Imagery, Charlotte, NC, May 2014-present
• Co-authored scholarly article (in press) with Dr. Lynsey Romo: “You Never Know What’s Gonna Happen: An Examination of Communication Strategies used by College Student-Athletes to Manage Uncertainty,” Communication and Sport.
• Blog manager and member, Public Relations Student Society of America

Honors:

Lambda Pi Eta, Communication Honors Society

Postgraduate Plans:

I intend to graduate in December 2015, and apply for the Masters in Creative Brand Management at Virginia Commonwealth University.

What do you enjoy most about Humanities and Social Sciences?

I spent three semesters as a Fashion and Textile Management major, and then took a year off from school to work and carefully think through my college experience and career goals. I returned to NC State as a Humanities and Social Sciences student seeking a future in an advertising-related profession. This college not only educates you, but helps you to prepare for the job search, emphasizing networking and creating your “professional self.” It allows you to see where you want to go, whereas students in other colleges can be more narrowly focused on facts, passing classes, and the “here and now.”

What are some of your favorite Humanities and Social Sciences courses?

Principles of News Article Writing with Professor Dick Reavis taught me how to write well, refine sentence structure – things that will be of great benefit as I continue in public relations. Public Relations Writing with Dean Phillips helped me to think critically. Class assignments covered topics that I came across in my internship, so I could see their usefulness immediately. As an advisor, Sandy Stallings offered me realistic perspectives and made me feel she cared about me as an individual.

How did your research support your academic experiences?

Researching with Dr. Lynsey Romo was wonderful! What impacted me the most from working with her was her leadership style and work ethic. She was always very friendly and approachable, while maintaining clarity and efficiency. She taught me a lot about how to be thorough during the research process. I had a perfect example of a researcher who was incredibly driven and creative within her work.

What advice would you give incoming students?

Know that there is going to be a transition from high school to college. I had to really learn what was important to know in a class, how to study correctly, how to manage test anxiety, and how much effort you have to put in to be successful. When you receive your syllabi at the beginning of the semester, write down every single reading and assignment to be done, and make sure to complete every one. At the end of the semester, you will then feel like you truly understood the course and got a lot out of it.