#PittsburghMe: Meet Lauren Joseph, Public Relations and Advertising Major

Meet Lauren Joseph

Major: Public Relations and Advertising
Minor: Multimedia
Expected graduation: Spring 2017
Hometown: Scott Township, Pa.
High school: Chartiers Valley High School
Scholarships: Departmental, Trustee, Point Park University Grant
Dream job: Founder and CEO of my own event planning firm

Why did you choose Point Park University?

Point Park University was always at the top of my list of schools. I was a dancer my entire life and wanted to dance professionally, so I knew that going to Point Park would help get me there. Many of my summers were spent taking the summer intensive held at Point Park. I loved the campus and the independence I felt there. When I realized that I had a different career path in mind, I decided to look into the School of Communication.

Who is your favorite professor and why?

My favorite professor is Camille Downing. I've only had one special events planning class with Camille, but she is straightforward and real with her students. She will tell you if something isn't the best idea or if you could do better. She expects you to do your work and do it well. Camille is also working in the field and has a lot of professional connections.

Tell us about your internship experiences and how Point Park has prepared you for them.

I have had a few internship experiences as a Point Park student. I've worked with the Magee-Women's Foundation, Dickerson Creative Communications and the The Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership. All of these opportunities have focused on event planning, which I've fallen in love with. Point Park University has prepared me for these internships because of the hands-on learning experiences I've received as a student. Most of our professors are still working in their fields and use their experiences in the classroom. I believe that this kind of learning environment prepared me to be successful in all of my internships.

Pittsburgh has the best food scene. What are some of your favorite places to eat?

What a question! Eating and cooking are two really big bonding activities in my family, so I love the opportunity to talk about food. A few of my favorite places to eat are Umbrella Cafe, Sienna Mercato, Las Velas, Primanti Brothers, China Town Inn, and Penn Avenue Fish Company.

As a senior, what are some accomplishments that you're proud of?

I am really proud to have been active inside and outside of my school. I have worked extremely hard to build relationships, gain professional experience and make fun memories while at Point Park. In addition to my internships, I worked at PNC Bank for three years as a student, I am on the board of the Impulse hip-hop club and I am the vice president of PRSSA. I am well known among my professors and peers as fun, caring and hard working. My goal as a student was obviously to learn, but also to gain enough experience to feel comfortable as a new professional. I believe that I have done just that.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

It's so difficult to picture where you will be in 10 years, but I am hoping that I will be settled down in Pittsburgh and working toward my goal of opening my own event planning firm. Planning events is my passion and I believe that I have the go-getter attitude to make my dreams come true.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

My advice to incoming students would be that it is okay to not know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life. I still don't know what I will be doing when I graduate. The only way you're ever going to discover your passions and your dreams is to get out and start doing things. Don't delete those emails you get about internship opportunities or volunteer events. Make the effort to get yourself known among your peers and professors. If someone sees your excitement and eagerness to learn, they will help you along the path to your dreams.

#PittsburghMe: Meet Lauren Joseph, Public Relations and Advertising Major Tuesday, December 6, 2016