Lauren Owens
“My career outlook has brightened now that I am aware of all the opportunities that are out there. There are so many different paths I might take once I complete my program."
Lauren Owens | M.A. Communication Studies
Current job: Talent Acquisition Intern at Saint-Gobain
For graduate student Lauren Owens, the opportunity to pursue graduate school in Communication Studies at Kent State stood out because of the many pathways that could potentially come of it: marketing, social media and human resources, to name a few. She had studied international relations as an undergraduate but was looking to get away from the political science realm.
“My career outlook has brightened now that I am aware of all the opportunities that are out there,” Owens said. “There are so many different paths I might take once I complete my program. I am taking a class right now with Dr. Cheryl Ann Lambert that focuses on digital branding, and it has really helped me establish my career vision and create credibility with potential employers.”
M.A. Communication Studies CCI Graduate Programs
Graduate school has helped her develop excellent organization skills. She currently juggles classwork, her graduate assistant ship and an internship at Saint-Gobain, a manufacturing company headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. She says: “Every morning, I check my work and school calendars first, and then I create a to-do list of priorities to complete for that day. This has helped me stay on track.”
Owens’s internship at Saint-Gobain is in the Talent Acquisition division and involves leading the company’s summer internship program, recruiting candidates and social media marketing.
“My favorite part about my job has been creating events for interns to participate in during their time with the company,” she said. “Last summer, I organized a luncheon and Q&A with the CEO, which ended up being my most memorable learning experience at the company.”
Advice for future graduate students:
"Ask for help and reach out to other graduate students. Every professor, faculty, and staff member in this program has been incredibly kind and supportive during my time here. I’ve even reached out to professors for advice on things outside of class work, such as finances and career advice.