M.A. and M.B.A. alum Shannon Farr is a senior communications specialist at Westinghouse Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Meet Shannon Farr
Job title/current employer: Senior Communications Specialist, Westinghouse Electric Company
Degrees earned at Point Park: M.A. in journalism and mass communication in 2008 and M.B.A. in 2011
Hometown: Williamsport, Pa.
Now living in: Monroeville, Pa.
Hobbies/interests: Writing, collecting estate jewelry, running, communications committee chair for the Pittsburgh local section of the American Nuclear Society, member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Westinghouse chapter of the North American Young Generation of Nuclear
Why did you choose Point Park University?
As an aspiring journalism graduate student, I knew that Point Park University would serve as a platform for me to hone my writing skills and that I would be mentored by professionals who work in the local newsrooms. As an M.B.A. candidate, I chose Point Park to learn the basics of business management and to get a refined understanding of how a successful business should operate.
What was the most beneficial experience at Point Park?
Truly, from news writing classes to video editing, and eventually from accounting to economics, all of my experiences at Point Park were beneficial. My most valued experiences, though, were with professors Andrew Conte and Bill Moushey in the School of Communication's graduate program. They taught me how to structure a news article and mentored me as I entered my reporting career.
What is a typical day like at Westinghouse?
A typical day at Westinghouse includes a professional environment where I choose and I am identified to work on projects based upon my abilities and capacity to contribute. I recently moved from the internal communications department to the public relations and marketing communications group, where I will be representing Westinghouse at trade shows and conferences around the world. So, moving forward, a typical day will include travel and customer-facing job responsibilities.
What advice do you have for today's students?
Cliché: You get out what you put in. So true!
What are your career goals?
It is a priority for me to always set a minimum of a five-year career plan to ensure that I reach my short- and long-term career goals. My goal before entering the M.A. program at Point Park was to be a news reporter. Since reaching that goal, I have moved into the internal and now the external side of communications at Westinghouse where I have limitless opportunities to grow professionally.
Westinghouse afforded me the opportunity to complete my M.B.A., which was a goal I had since joining the business. Now, my career goal is to be successful at my new position on the external side of the house so that I can one day be a leader in my field. To reach the goal of becoming a leader within my industry, I am currently holding an active leadership position on a nuclear industry professional society. Coordinating and attending the global trade shows will keep my hands full, I'm sure, and also help me to reach my career goals.