U.S. Customs chief of staff urges students to "leap" into the real world from college

By Emmy Mittler
Professional Writing junior

Andrew Maner, bottom right, meets with department faculty and students during a fall visit

The transition from college to the workforce is a huge step, and how you do it will determine your success throughout life, said department alumnus Andrew Maner, the chief of staff to U.S. Customs.

Maner shared his tips for making the move from college to the real world during a speech as part of the Krannert Executive Forum. He encouraged students to create options for themselves by trying many different things, and to not be afraid to fail.

Later that afternoon, Maner met with faculty and graduate students in the Communication Department. He discussed his own job experiences and the changing fields of communication and politics. While managing the day-to-day operations of the U.S. Customs commissioner's office, Maner also advises the commissioner on such issues as trade, security and policy.

Maner also discussed how his experiences while at Purdue influenced his career. "It's not only what I studied here, but what I did. The opportunities that I had to do while I was here are the total basis for everything I did," he said.

"For example, I never would have gotten my first internship had I not been encouraged through public relations classes to join PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and to do real-life public relations for some clients in Lafayette."

Such experience set him apart from other job candidates after graduation, he said.

He said when people ask him if he attended Purdue to be an engineer, he responds he is proud to be a Purdue Liberal Arts graduate.

Matt Gill, a first-year doctoral student in the department, said such interpersonal access to alumni are one of the benefits to a Purdue education.

"I think it's wonderful we have graduates who are proud to have gotten a degree from Purdue and also willing to take time out of their lives to come back and support those students who have decided to get their degree from Purdue," Gill said.

Maner said he really enjoyed interacting with students during his visit.

"What I loved was being in the classroom," he said. "Professors and whatnot are used to this, but you can actually look at the faces, and there is a third of the people in the room you're not affecting, there is a third that are like, 'Wow,' they picked up one thing that might change what they're doing. And then there's the third that are so ecstatic and so engaged, it just gives you so much energy," he said

"It was a great day. I loved being with the students. I'd do it again."