Career Development
Featured Alumni
Elvina Wijaya
The field of Public Relations can be a hectic one, where accommodating clients is no easy task and responding quickly to customer demand is essential. However, if you are anything like Elvina Wijaya you openly welcome such a challenge. Through her persistence and hardworking attitude she has been able to excel in her career and keep up in the fast-paced environment of PR.
Since she graduated from Purdue in 2009, Elvina has held PR positions with three different companies. “Moving from one agency to another had increased my knowledge of how every agency has its unique way to handle their clients,” Elvina says. Her current position has taken her to Jakarta, Indonesia working for the PR firm Fleishman-Hillard. An average day consists of everything from building relationships with the media, to pitching events and monitoring current news stories related to her clients. “Drafting invitations and press releases is one of my favorite parts in the job, since most of the media writes the news based on our press releases. I am also currently learning to make proposals for new businesses.”
During her years as a Purdue undergrad, Elvina was an active member of PRSSA. She strongly believes that her participation in this organization led to her successful career today. For students who wish to follow in Elvina’s footsteps, she recommends that they remain fearless when chasing their dreams. “Do not be afraid to apply for any public relations internship. Learn as much as you can during the internship.” Elvina recognizes the competitive elements in the PR world, and wants to stress to students the importance of persistence. “Even if the company that you applied for hasn’t given you an answer, you need to keep a positive attitude and keep following up with your application. A hardworking attitude is a must.”
As a young, new employee at a large corporation, Elvina’s job is not without its challenges, but she has proven that being motivated and taking initiative allows anyone to have a successful career. “I had a hard time adjusting to the work culture as well as its fast-paced environment. But as time went by, the experience helped me become a better PR consultant at Fleishman-Hillard. My positive attitude, persistency, and hard-working attitude helped me through all the hard times and made me stronger.”
Ken Armstrong
If you want the kind of job where every day is always different, you might consider talking to Ken Armstrong about what he does for a living. As an investigative reporter for the Seattle Times, no two days are the same for Ken. An average day can consist of anything from conducting interviews to hunting down documents, or drafting an article about any number of criminal-justice issues. This is the feature that Ken likes most about his job. “Journalists tend to be drawn to the job’s variety – and the allure of knowing that each day could break any which way.”
Ken has had an extremely successful career as a journalist, allowing him to travel all over the country. He has worked in New York City, Chicago, California, Colorado, Idaho, Seattle, Virginia, New Jersey, and even Alaska. His various writings have created a huge impact, including helping to bring about new laws regarding criminal justice, regulations for lawyers, courthouse transparency, and healthcare. One of his personally regarded greatest achievements was when he participated in an investigative series that lead to help free innocent men from Death Row, as well as instigated a moratorium on executions. In addition to these successes, he is also a winner of the John Chancellor Award from Columbia University for lifetime achievement and a two time winner of the George Polk Award.
For Ken, one of the greatest perks of being a journalist is the opportunity to work with a variety of different people he otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to interact with. The opportunity to write something meaningful about these people makes his job worthwhile. “I love experimenting with the different ways of telling a good story, and long-form narrative allows you to stretch your writing muscles.” Ken firmly believes that his job at the Seattle Times is having an impact on the world. “To me, the best part of the job is doing stories that make a difference. Through our work, we’re given the chance to right wrongs. When we succeed, the results can be anything from legislative reforms to innocent people going free.”
Ken never originally thought he wanted to be a reporter when he was a student at Purdue, but the time he spent working for the Exponent helped him discover his passion for journalism. “I owe the Exponent more than I could ever repay. I learned teamwork, and how to deal with stress, and to balance possibilities with responsibilities,” Ken says. “I found a calling – and had fun along the way.”
To those looking to follow in Ken’s footsteps, he recommends that you begin by broadening your skills. He believes that in today’s world, “being a generalist isn’t enough. Develop expertise in subjects that can set you apart. Find something that fascinates you – and would likely intimidate others.” He also stressed the importance of having a curious nature and a thick skin to help be successful in this industry. But most importantly, have fun with your job, and never stop learning ways in which you could improve it. “There are so many ways to tell a story,” Ken says. “Learn as many of them as you can.”
Allyson Zan 
Many students have been involved in the study abroad program at Purdue, but few have been impacted by the country they visited enough to make it their permanent home. Allyson Zan, a May 2010 graduate of Purdue, studied abroad in Paris, France and later called the city her home. “I felt at home in Paris and came to the understanding that this was the place I wanted to be and where I wanted to begin my professional career.” With a major in Political Science and minors in French, History and African American Studies, Allyson was prepared for the challenge of working abroad.
Upon graduation, Allyson moved to Paris to teach English in the French public school system. She worked in a suburb of Paris called Livry-Gargan with children ages 7-11. Paris had always been a dream of Allyson’s ever since she studied abroad. Even in her days at Purdue she would often tell fellow students about how she was going to work there when she graduated. It is commonly perceived that applying to work in a foreign country required an extensive application process, but Allyson proves this is not the case. “For my program, in particular, I filled out an application, wrote a cover letter in French as well as sending both professional and academic letters of reference.” The only challenging aspect of the process for Allyson was choosing the location she wanted to work in.
While working abroad, Allyson experienced many rewarding aspects. There was an opportunity for personal and professional development and honing of valuable skills and traits that come from working professionally in a foreign setting. Along with gaining professional skills, Allyson also experienced a very different work environment from America. French employees recieve different benefits from the government than Americans. For example, French employees have much longer vacations, different working hours, and social benefits provided by the government. “The bureaucratic areas of France differ greatly from the normal business practices as I have seen in America.”
All of the amazing experiences that Allyson had were made possible through the Purdue study abroad program. Her time in Paris, France influenced Allyson’s decision to work and live abroad. During her time there, she became familar with Paris and the differences in French culture. “I would recommend studying abroad 110% and beliete that each student can broaden his/her world perception and cultural understanding through such an experience.” She encourages students to take full advantage of the amazing opportunities that the study abroad program has to offer. The variety of programs allows students to travel to places that most only read about in books.
For the students that want to work abroad like Allyson, the best advice she can offer is to participate in the study abroad program. “I believe that studying abroad is the perfect route to take for discovering oneself and developing independence.” Both of these traits are important to posess if one wishes to work abroad and can be obtained by being a part of the study abroad program. Working in a foreign country is an exciting and new experience, and with hard work and a love of travel, it is possible for any student.
Devin DeToro
There is never a dull moment in the life of Devin DeToro. Whether she’s making sure the advertisments are running correctly or working with sponsorships for concerts, her job as the National Sales Assistant at CBS Radio is always exciting. “One of the best parts of my job is getting to work with every department. I get to do everything with the clients, from on-air endorsements to promotional campaigns.” An alumna of Purdue University, she graduated with a degree in Sociology in May 2008.
Radio wasn’t always the path that Devin wanted to take, though. Growing up she knew that she wanted to do something on the creative side, specifically art school. However, her future goals changed when her family moved from Washington, D.C. to Indiana. “I got a part time internship at a locak radio station my senior year of high school. My time there was really what sparked my interest in radio.” Devin was able to work for Artistic Media Partners radio stations, including WAZY, while she was attending Purdue, allowing her to gain even more experience in the field.
In addition to working at WAZY, Devin also founded the Purdue Underground Concert Committee. Her radio station experiences sparked a desire to bring more shows and concerts to Purdue’s campus. Together with friends who shared her passion, the Purdue Underground Concert Committee was created. “We mainly booked small, local bands but every year we would have a big Grand Prix concert that featured a bigger-name band. One year we partnered with Cary Quad and had Gym Class Heroes perform.”
Working with big-name bands and artists in college was only the beginning of Devin’s career. At CBS Radio, Devin has been in close contact
with a number of celebrities, from Justin Bieber to Katy Perry. “Working around celebrities makes the job interesting. People think that we only have the “big stars” on our shows, but a lot of the times
we get the up-and-coming stars too.” Watching the singers grow to star potential is one of the many things Devin loves about her job.
However, getting this dream job wasn’t easy. Devin had a number of internships and was highly involved on campus. “People notice your hard work. I know that most students don’t want to do an unpaid internship, but if you’re passionate about your field, it will show in your work.” Devin believes that college is the best time to get involved and gain those experiences that you will need in your future career. Hard work is notices and appreciated so don’t be afraid to get involved and take advantage of every opportunity presented in your college years.
Dan Meisner
You could say that Dan Meisner was a little late to the game when it comes to theatre, but by the success he’s seen at such a young age you would think he had been doing it his whole life.
“I didn’t become serious about theatre until my sophomore year of college,” said Dan, Co-founder and Artistic Executive Director of Ka-Tet Theatre Company and Purdue alum. “I was undeclared my Freshman year, and really didn’t know if it was something I could make a go at until I did some soul searching and decided that this was it.”
Dan’s situation was not unlike that of many other Purdue students. Unsure of what path was best suited for him, Dan took advantage of the educational and acting opportunities that were offered. Acting in around a dozen shows while at Purdue and working with countless theatrical influences, he found that these opportunities were what helped him determine what path that was.
“As an undergrad, I also had the opportunity to share the stage with many talented graduate students who acted as great mentors and teachers,” he said.
“I can also say there was a great support base with all of the professors at Purdue. The culture is one that is nurturing if you are willing to put in the time and effort. In a way that type of mentality helped to prepare me for what was ahead after the collegiate leap.”
And prepared he certainly was. A 2007 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in acting, Dan wasted no time in launching his successful career by cofounding Chicago-based theater company Ka-Tet in 2008.
“The name Ka-Tet is also an interesting choice no?” Dan admits. “It’s a fictional term taken from Steven King’s Dark Tower series. It means a group of people brought together by fate to achieve a common goal. We thought it fit the style of theatre we wanted to convey.”
Because of the importance of his dual roles with Ka-Tet, Dan’s responsibilities are endless. From reading scripts, setting up meetings with potential venues, managing budgets, working with designers, coordinating schedules, and several more duties he mentioned, there is very little that Dan doesn’t do.
“This list could honestly continue for an entire page,” he said. “On top of all that I’ve also acted in 3 out of our 4 productions.”
While Dan’s work is demanding, he also finds the rewards are well worth it.
“Store front theater is intimate,” he said. “It’s an experience that you can’t find downtown at the bigger houses. That, I believe, is the most rewarding part of the work we strive to create. Seeing a Ka-Tet show should be moving. One in which the production values, and storytelling will immerse you, and really make you have an experience rather than just a night of entertainment. When that level of artistic expression is achieved then we have done our jobs as storytellers. And that, is certainly most enjoyable.”
The best advice Dan can give to those who plan to pursue a career in theatre is to be realistic. The industry is tough, and a thick skin and patience are key to succeeding.
“My advice is specifically aimed at the bright eyed actor types … I think it is important to dive in when you have that drive and motivation. Waiting to do it will sometimes make you second guess yourself. If you heed one piece of advice from my response then it should be this; be unabashedly bold. Dream big, but be realistic about it at the same time.”
To learn more about Ka-Tet Theatre please feel free to visit us online at www.katettheatre.org
Ryan Munden
Like many incoming freshman, Ryan Munden, a Purdue graduate and local attorney, was unsure what career path he wanted to take. “As a kid I had the typical aspirations,” he said. “I was going to be a race car driver one day and the next week I wanted to be a brain surgeon. I think I even remember wanting to be a crime scene investigator at one point (prior to CSI television shows)”
In high school, Munden participated in multiple internship and volunteer opportunities where he was introduced to the legal profession, working for judges and attorneys. “The very first task that I was assigned by one of the judges in Henry County was to clean up old files in the basement of the courthouse,” he said. “I guess you could say that I literally worked my way up from the very bottom.”
But coming from a line of dentists, Munden also entertained the idea of following in the footsteps of his family members. Ultimately, it was his attraction to the authority and “get things done” attitude of legal professionals that inspired him to pursue a career in law, and he had multiple influences here at Purdue who helped him achieve that goal. “I encountered a number of influential people when I was at Purdue, but the two that stand above the crowd in my mind were Jan Cortner and JoAnn Miller,” Munden said.
Cortner, his academic advisor, was continually encouraging him to challenge himself. When he would approach her with his plan for the next semester, she would present a plan of her own, consisting of additional majors and minors, more credit hours, an honors program, internships, and more. The influence of Miller on Munden came about in a much different way, but still made an impact. “I can’t remember the first class of hers that I took, but I remember us butting heads very early on. She was one of my first experiences with an extremely demanding professor.”
But even as a self-proclaimed “excruciatingly-stubborn college kid,” Munden had a great amount of respect for Dr. Miller and the expectations she had of him and the rest of her students. Munden went on to take several more of her classes, TA for her for one semester, and was even able to have her supervise two of his internships while a student at Purdue.
Munden graduated Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2007, and then attended Indiana University School of Law. After working for in-house counsel at Firestone in Indianapolis, Munden returned to Purdue and now works for the corporate law firm of Reiling Teder & Schrier in Lafayette, splitting his time between litigation and transactions.
Sociology may seem like an odd launching point for a career in law, but Munden found that his curriculum at Purdue translated very easily to the work he does today. “The benefit of the classes I took as a sociology major is that it gave me such a broad background and I had to learn to adapt on the turn of a dime to different types of information,” Munden explained. “On a given day I might go from a sociology of law class to an entomology lab … and finish my day with philosophy. … I come into my office now and in a single day may review an employment contract, prepare a stock purchase agreement, take a phone call regarding a loan modification, go to court for a hearing related to a breach of contract, and finish the day writing a research memo on an issue related to civil procedure.”
After multiple internships in law, working as a Dean’s Ambassador for four years on campus, attending law school, and holding multiple positions post-graduation, it’s safe to say that Munden knows a thing or two about the legal profession. His advice for those pursuing a career in law: experience! “… get as much experience as you can ANYWHERE you can; even if it is digging through old files in the basement of a courthouse. You would be amazed at how much you pick up just by being around a profession. I learned as much if not more during my internships as I did in my law school classes. Your internships and experience are what will set you apart.”
Kate Bouwens
Kate, like many other students, came to college unsure of how to translate her strengths into a major. After a chance meeting with the mother of a Professional Writing major, Kate’s father suggested that she look into the Professional Writing program at Purdue. A gifted communicator, Kate quickly found her place within the major. She enjoyed the versatility of it. Kate comments, “I firmly believe that PW students can do great work in any industry.”
Kate explored that versatility through internships that she held as an undergraduate. Working as an intern at the Purdue Writing Lab, the Lafayette Crisis Center, and Customs and Border Protection, Kate learned the value of gaining experience before graduation. When asked what advice she had for current students, Kate said, “I’d tell undergraduates: GET AN INTERNSHIP!” Why take her advice? One of Kate’s internships led to her landing the amazing position she now holds after graduation.
Customs and Border Protection was so impressed with Kate’s hard work that they offered her a position at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Kate now works reporting to the Department’s headquarters in Washington D.C. Her work directly effects the budget of the department where she is required to work with Project Managers to efficiently procure the right information.
Kate says that networking is just as important as internships to her professional development. “Networking is the absolute best way to get what you want. Informational interviews are a great way to get your foot in the door of a company and get noticed.”
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