Communication fields like public relations are ever-growing in today’s digital age. It seems like every college or university has some sort of public relations program. Emerson’s MA in Public Relations is unique in its person-centered approach, networking opportunities, and high-caliber education. Today we hear from Andrew Cassidy, a public relations alum of Emerson’s Strategic Public Relations program. He’ll share how his time at Emerson influenced his approach to public relations and helped him succeed as a Senior Director at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
What is your current role, and how did you get there?
“I’m the Senior Director of Digital Strategy and Engagement at the MBTA,” Andrew says. He graduated from the Strategic Public Relations MA, now the Public Relations MA, in 2019. Within six months of graduation, Andrew got a job as Director of Social Media at the MBTA. After two years in this position, Andrew was promoted to his current position, Senior Director of Digital Strategy and Engagement.
In addition to working for the MBTA, Andrew runs his own consulting firm, Cassidy Consulting. Through his business, Andrew provides full-service consulting, primarily for marketing and public relations.
What does a typical day look like for you?
“Every day is absolutely new, which is part of what I love about this job,” Andrew explains. In his current role, Andrew oversees the MBTA’s digital footprint. This includes running the MBTA social media accounts, producing internal and external communications, and taking on crisis management when the need arises. “On any given day, I might start a livestream, edit a video, record a podcast, or write a report.”
Andrew adds that he enjoys thinking creatively about how to improve the public’s relationship with the MBTA. A major goal for him is to make the MBTA more transparent as an organization to gain more public trust. One way he’s doing this is through the podcast he hosts called Spilling the T. This podcast aims to show listeners what happens behind the scenes at the MBTA and why. Through projects like these, Andrew aims to improve the public’s perception of the MBTA.
When did you decide to go to graduate school?
Andrew graduated from Emerson with a BS in Communication Studies in 2011. “After undergrad, I initially felt like I needed to jump into grad school right away.” However, as he began researching the communications field, Andrew decided that he wanted to solidify his career goals before applying to a graduate program. For about six years, Andrew continued working in the communications field, building skills and exploring his goals.
In 2017, Emerson launched its Public Relations graduate program, which immediately caught Andrew’s eye. To learn more about the program, he scheduled a meeting with Gregory Payne, the Chair of Emerson’s Department of Communication Studies. Andrew recalls, “We were talking about whether I should enroll in the program. In the middle of our discussion, Greg suggested that I observe a class. So right then and there, he walked me down the hall, and I sat in on a class.”
After observing a class session, Andrew was even more interested in Emerson’s Public Relations program. Although he had considered other graduate programs, the program at Emerson stood out for its fresh approach. “Whereas other programs might be more established, this was bleeding edge. It was built at a moment in time where it felt leaps and bounds ahead of anything else.” Andrew was impressed that Emerson was adapting to the evolving communications landscape, rather than clinging to outdated practices like other programs did.
Photo by Brijesh Reddy on Unsplash
Would you recommend the Public Relations program to others?
“Yes–absolutely and emphatically,” Andrew says. The main reason he would recommend Emerson’s program is the person-centered approach. The professors in the program all emphasized the importance of seeing public relations as a human-centered endeavor. “I learned never to lose sight of the person,” Andrew says. “That’s like a cheat code for the universe. If you approach a problem by first thinking about people’s needs and how to meet them, everything else is relatively easy.” This person-centered approach has guided Andrew’s work at the MBTA, and he’s seen it pay off.
Do you still feel connected to the Emerson community?
Andrew still keeps in touch with classmates and professors from his time at Emerson. Beyond these connections, the public relations alum notes that Emerson alumni are eager to help others in the Emerson community, even if they are complete strangers. For example, Andrew says he was able to get a celebrity’s contact information for a project, simply because the celebrity was an Emerson alum. “The Emerson Mafia is real,” Andrew says. “The access you get is amazing.”
In addition to having access to all these connections, Andrew makes himself available to help other Emersonians. He regularly speaks to graduate classes and is active on Emerge, Emerson’s networking platform. He encourages people to reach out to him and is happy to help however he can.
What’s next for you?
“I’m always eager to take whatever challenge comes next,” Andrew says. He loves the variety and challenge of his work for the MBTA and is excited to continue growing his career.
Hopefully this conversation with public relations alum Andrew helps you envision the possibilities available with a Public Relations degree. For more information about Emerson’s Public Relations graduate program, schedule a call with an admissions counselor or check out our Public Relations page on the blog. To hear more about Emerson’s successful alumni, be sure to visit the Alumni page.
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