{"id":4542,"date":"2024-09-17T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/?p=4542"},"modified":"2024-09-24T11:39:13","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T15:39:13","slug":"public-relations-alum-now-senior-director-at-the-mbta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2024\/09\/17\/public-relations-alum-now-senior-director-at-the-mbta\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Relations Alum Now Senior Director at the MBTA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Communication fields like public relations are ever-growing in today\u2019s digital age. It seems like every college or university has some sort of public relations program. Emerson\u2019s MA in Public Relations<\/a> is unique in its person-centered approach, networking opportunities, and high-caliber education. Today we hear from Andrew Cassidy<\/a>, a public relations alum of Emerson\u2019s Strategic Public Relations program. He\u2019ll 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).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your current role, and how did you get there?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m the Senior Director of Digital Strategy and Engagement at the MBTA,\u201d Andrew says. He graduated from the Strategic Public Relations MA, now the Public Relations MA<\/a>, 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to working for the MBTA, Andrew runs his own consulting firm, Cassidy Consulting<\/a>. Through his business, Andrew provides full-service consulting, primarily for marketing and public relations. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What does a typical day look like for you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery day is absolutely new, which is part of what I love about this job,\u201d Andrew explains. In his current role, Andrew oversees the MBTA\u2019s digital footprint. This includes running the MBTA social media accounts, producing internal and external communications, and taking on crisis management when the need arises. \u201cOn any given day, I might start a livestream, edit a video, record a podcast, or write a report.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew adds that he enjoys thinking creatively about how to improve the public\u2019s 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\u2019s doing this is through the podcast he hosts called Spilling the T<\/a>. 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\u2019s perception of the MBTA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When did you decide to go to graduate school?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Andrew graduated from Emerson with a BS in Communication Studies<\/a> in 2011. \u201cAfter undergrad, I initially felt like I needed to jump into grad school right away.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, Emerson launched its Public Relations graduate program, which immediately caught Andrew\u2019s eye. To learn more about the program, he scheduled a meeting with Gregory Payne<\/a>, the Chair of Emerson\u2019s Department of Communication Studies<\/a>.  Andrew recalls, \u201cWe 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After observing a class session, Andrew was even more interested in Emerson\u2019s Public Relations program. Although he had considered other graduate programs, the program at Emerson stood out for its fresh approach. \u201cWhereas 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.\u201d Andrew was impressed that Emerson was adapting to the evolving communications landscape, rather than clinging to outdated practices like other programs did.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Brijesh Reddy<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Would you recommend the Public Relations program to others? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cYes\u2013absolutely and emphatically,\u201d Andrew says. The main reason he would recommend Emerson\u2019s program is the person-centered approach. The professors in the program<\/a> all emphasized the importance of seeing public relations as a human-centered endeavor. \u201cI learned never to lose sight of the person,\u201d Andrew says. \u201cThat\u2019s like a cheat code for the universe. If you approach a problem by first thinking about people\u2019s needs and how to meet them, everything else is relatively easy.\u201d This person-centered approach has guided Andrew\u2019s work at the MBTA, and he\u2019s seen it pay off. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Do you still feel connected to the Emerson community?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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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\u2019s contact information for a project, simply because the celebrity was an Emerson alum. \u201cThe Emerson Mafia<\/a> is real,\u201d Andrew says. \u201cThe access you get is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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,<\/a> Emerson\u2019s networking platform. He encourages people to reach out to him and is happy to help however he can. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s next for you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m always eager to take whatever challenge comes next,\u201d Andrew says. He loves the variety and challenge of his work for the MBTA and is excited to continue growing his career.<\/p>\n\n\n