Careers

JaRel Clay, '11

Digital Director, Hip Hop Caucus
Major: Communication Studies

Alumni Profile: Paul Starr, '02

“The beauty of having a Communication Studies degree is that you are an expert at communicating, so you can talk, understand, and listen. All of my professors did this so well which really made a huge impact on my life.”

Paul Starr | Communication Studies | Class of 2002

Communication Studies alumnus Paul Starr’s career has consisted of interacting with the Mars Rover and International Space Station, and even helping fight the COVID-19 virus. As the Director of Sales and Customer Engagement at Newark Electronics, Starr, '02, has combined his love for interpersonal communication and business management.

Newark Electronics is part of the Advent Company, which is the world’s second largest distributor of electronic components. Starr is responsible for communicating with the company’s sales team in both India and Richfield, Ohio, and exchanging ideas on how best to engage with internal customers about different topics. Those ideas recently have included discussions about how to get electronic parts to manufacturers so they can make ventilators for COVID-19 patients all over the world.

In this leadership role, Starr has found it necessary to be able to build trust and a welcoming environment to those he interacts with each day.

“I have to take good care and have to be responsible for the people who are setting out on the missions I direct," he says.

Starr credits his Communications Studies degree and the professors he interacted with each day during his undergrad for a lot of the success he has experienced in his career.

“The beauty of having a Communication Studies degree is that you are an expert at communicating, so you can talk, understand, and listen. All of my professors did this so well which really made a huge impact on my life.”

Now, Starr gets the chance to help impact graduating college students by giving them opportunities to start their career and make their mark on the world through his current role at Newark Electronics.

“If you have good communication skills, you will advance your career because you'll be able to be self-reflective, you'll be able to understand the environment you're in, you'll be able to adjust to your audience, you'll be able to recognize verbal and nonverbal cues of how things are going and what you can expect.”

Alumni Profile: Christine Rich, '02

“My communications degree gave me the ability to think critically and look at issues from multiple perspectives. It also instilled in me a natural curiosity and those are all skills needed to write, publish, and market a book."

Christine Rich | Communication Studies | Class of 2002

Kent State University alumna Christine Rich, ’02, credits her Communication Studies degree for helping her move up the corporate ladder. Most recently, her degree has also helped her tell her personal story of living with a chronic illness.

“My communications degree gave me the ability to think critically and look at issues from multiple perspectives. It also instilled in me a natural curiosity and those are all skills needed to write, publish, and market a book,” Rich said. 

After graduating from Kent State in 2002, Rich began her career as the Development Director at the Alzheimer’s Association. She held positions as Director of Marketing at American Greetings and now, Marketing Director, DIY at Sherwin Williams. In 2021, she published her autobiography “Chronic,” in which she details her diagnoses with Crohn’s disease and tells a story that many people can relate to regardless of their health status.  

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Patients often experience symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and rectal bleeding, according to the Cleveland Clinic Health Library.

“The year after I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, I was a freshman at Kent State. I decided to write this book because I spent many years trying to hide from and deny the fear, anger, and sadness I felt because of my illness,” Rich said. “Through raw and personal stories and insights, I candidly share my journey of living with and eventually learning to befriend my less-than-glamorous, oftentimes invisible, chronic illness.”

In “Chronic,” Rich discusses her diagnosis; it not only impacted her physically, but also mentally and throughout her studies. Her Communication Studies coursework inspired her to publish her book and help start open conversations about living with chronic illnesses. 

“I hid my physical, mental, and emotional pain because I felt ashamed. Which in turn, only made my symptoms and overall anxiety worse. I wish I would have known that it was okay and completely normal to feel grief, fear, and anger about my situation,” Rich said. “Overall, we need to have more open conversations about the intersection of chronic illness and mental and emotional health so that patients feel validated and empowered to advocate for their care and needs.” 

What Rich learned in Communication Studies helped her become an advocate for people and develop strong leadership skills for her future job positions. Her connections with others were key to her moving up the corporate ladder. 

“At the end of the day, it’s all about connection with the self and others. And without strong communication skills it can be hard to make those genuine, authentic connections,” Rich said.