A leadership retreat changed her life
Communication studies major Erin Miller decided what to do with her life after attending a leadership retreat.
A five-day leadership retreat with 60 other TU students, sponsored by the Office of Civic Engagement & Social Responsibility, changed Erin Miller’s life.
“The retreat shaped me as a leader and made me think about what I want to do with my life,” says Miller, a long-time volunteer and a former TU Orientation Leader.
Miller, a communication studies major, was responsible for running TU’s 2017-2018 Relay For Life, a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. She managed a 21-member committee, obtained sponsorships and donations, and handled all the logistics for the 12-hour Relay in Burdick Hall. The event raised more than $25,000 and attracted more than 300 participants.
“I have considered a career with nonprofits, charities or in higher education, or I can pursue a position in marketing or sales,” says Miller. “Communication studies opens up very different opportunities for you.”
“ The department is small, which means connections to your professors are very strong. ”
Miller was guided through the major by Erin Witte, a lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies, who directs TU’s Public Communication Center. “She was both a mentor and a friend, challenging me to discover things and making me think outside of the box,” explains Miller. “The department is small, which means connections to your professors are very strong.”
Through an internship in the development and philanthropy office of the National Aquarium, Miller worked closely with the corporate relations manager to raise funds for the aquarium’s operations and programs.
“The National Aquarium is a major economic contributor to the Baltimore region,” says Miller. “I was able participate in the major gift process and to see philanthropy in a much bigger setting.”
Currently, Neuberger & Company, Inc., a strategic sales and business development firm, is tapping into Miller’s communication skills as an intern in its goal-based training programs.