Fisher Students Take On New York

This spring, three student organizations at St. John Fisher University traveled to New York City to learn more about career opportunities, network with professionals, and explore the Big Apple.

In mid-March, students involved in the Cardinal Courier had the opportunity to travel to the annual College Media Association conference. The event brings together students from colleges and universities across the country, alongside professionals in all media fields, to explore the future of the industry.

Students had a front-row seat to media professionals who shared their insight and tips on running a collegiate newspaper.

“It was very helpful to hear from professionals in the industry and it prepared me for what to expect in the media workforce,” said Mallory Schake, editor at the Cardinal Courier.

Not only did the students have the opportunity to engage with professionals and hear insights into careers, they received an exclusive tour of The New York Times and Google where students learned about different aspects of the communications industry from professionals at each.

“The trip was such a valuable experience. It helped me to learn new ways to further myself and my profession,” said Nicole Pomerleau, head photographer for the Cardinal Courier.

Just as students with the Cardinal Courier returned to campus, their peers in PRIMA, Fisher’s student-run integrated public relations and marketing agency, were on their way to New York. The group toured public relations agencies, including Ketchum!, M Booth, and Edelman where they learned more about public relations and marketing strategies and client work. They also had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Public Relations and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

“The agencies talked more about internal development like earning clients and keeping them through relationship-building; overall it convinced me that there are different parts of PR I might take into consideration one day,” said Kessan VanGronigen, a junior double-majoring in media and communication and sociology.

The Investment Club at Fisher also had the opportunity to experience the Big Apple while enriching their understanding of the world of finance. The students were guided by Dr. Patricia Wollan, associate professor of finance, and Dr. Yi Liu, assistant professor of finance. While in the city, they visited financial organizations including Nasdaq, Bloomberg, VisioCap, and Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLB-NY).

“Already having an interest in learning how financial and banking institutions work, the visit to the FHLB-NY was a great opportunity to explore a new potential career path that I am now considering,” said Nate Lewis, a senior accounting major. “I appreciated learning about the important role of the FHLB in the understanding and stability of the financial markets. It was also incredibly insightful to dive into the current economic indicators and learn about the health of the economy outside of all the ‘headlines.’”

Wollan said that the Investment Club's visit to the FHLB-NY was transformational - teaching students about all aspects of the bank’s operations, from current economic conditions and the overall structure of operations to the IT and security behind the operations.

“A key takeaway for the students has been the importance of seeking out entities with a strong culture that focuses on collaboration building and a broad and deep network, and then nurturing those relationships,” she said.

Liu said the experience helped students uncover potential career avenues and motivated them to follow their careers with unwavering passion and purpose.

“This visit has been an invaluable experience, and I am deeply thankful for the significant impact it has had on both my personal growth and my students' outlooks on their future careers,” she said.