Betsy Crawford’s Transfer Student Success Class will host five guest speakers this semester. The class is designed to engage students who have transferred to Florida State University (FSU) from a community college or other university and are majoring in a program in the College of Communication and Information (CCI). Students meet weekly with peer mentors to explore resources available on campus and build academic and career networks through alumni guest speakers and attendance at college-wide events.

Each guest speaker is asked to discuss their time at FSU, their involvement on campus, and how that helped them land their first job. They also share how those experiences continue to support their careers. They describe their day-to-days, which can be eye-opening for students, exposing them to career options they may not have known existed. It also provides a great networking opportunity, as guest speakers often offer to conduct one-on-one interviews, review resumes and portfolios, and even give office tours if students visit their towns.

Alumni guest speakers include:

Brianna Holmes, a Strategy Director at BBDO Atlanta, an advertising agency.

Brooke Hopfe, a Digital Media Coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Eliana Roselli, a director of partnerships at The A List, an influencer and experiential marketing firm out of Beverly Hills, California.

Brandi Troup, on-air talent at Cox Media in Miami, Florida.

Kaitlyn Bludau, a Video Editor at Abercrombie and Fitch in Los Angeles, California.

“I hope by speaking to the students some of the biggest takeaways they note are to take every opportunity that becomes available, always be open to learning new things, and remember the way you do anything is the way you do everything,” said Brooke Hopfe.

“I shared how the paths I chose to take and the experiences shaped my career path to becoming a Brand Strategy Director at BBDO in Atlanta today,” said Brianna Holmes. “One of my biggest beliefs is that life is a series of paths – not necessarily right or wrong ones, but ones where a key decision can change your whole life trajectory. So I shared how key decisions like working certain jobs, internships, and joining FSU Ad Club while in college all led me to where I am today.”

Referring to Crawford’s class, Media Communication Studies student Zachary Staubitz shared, “She brought in guest speakers from various sectors within communication, advertising, and public relations, and I took full advantage of the valuable resources provided.”

Teaching Assistant and Information Technology Senior, Arianna Nicolas said, “I have become very well acquainted with the ins and outs of FSU due to some lectures we teach in the beginning of each semester about FSU resources. When it comes to the guest speakers and networking, it has been my honor to communicate with the alumni. They know about FSU, new and old, and their unique experiences while coming from a common background is invaluable.”