University Communications and Marketing

Desiree Bartoe, Apollo, Penn., native, is a senior public relations major with a minor in sociology. Bringing several different journalism and public relations experiences to Flash Communications, she worked as the social services beat reporter for the Daily Kent Stater. She interned for two summers in Pittsburgh with the United Steelworkers and Blattner Brunner, a large advertising and public relations agency. Adding to her breadth of experiences, Bartoe also tried her hand in non-profit while she interned at Project Learn in Akron. She is very active on campus as a member of Student Ambassadors, fundraising director for Black Squirrel Radio and the vice president of membership for PRSSA. Planning to graduate in May 2008, Bartoe aspires to practice public relations for an agency in Pittsburgh or Cleveland. Eventually, she would like to work for a large corporation in internal or crisis communications.

Sarah Bowen is a senior communications major with a minor in Spanish from Kent State University. She is currently a member of the Dive and Kent State Honors College, and serves as President of Kent Student Ambassadors. This is also her fourth year as a Building Automation Communication Center Operator at Campus Environment and Operations. By joining UCM in 2007, she hopes to further her knowledge of media and public relations and further communication and writing skills.

Sarah Colvin, of Medina, Ohio, is a senior public relations major with a minor in psychology. She is a member of PRSSA and was part of the PRSSA banquet planning committee in the spring of 2007. Sarah hopes to learn valuable skills and gain further experience at Flash Communications. After graduation in December 2008, she plans to move to South Carolina and pursue a career in non-profit public relations or work for an agency.

Dana (Rader) Fox, of Brunswick, Ohio, is a senior public relations major at Kent State. She's contributed as a student public relations coordinator for Flash Communications since August 2006. Dana has been an active member in Kent State’s chapter of PRSSA since 2005. She served as the 2006-2007 treasurer and, during that time, created the chapter's first e-newsletter, PRSSA Kent e-newsflash. Dana enjoys keeping busy and exploring new opportunities. She currently works with KeyBank as an on-campus marketing representative and interns at Landau Public Relations, an agency in Cleveland, Ohio. Dana aspires to practice public relations for an agency after she graduates in December 2007.

Olivia Mihalic

Olivia Mihalic,of North Royalton, Ohio, is a senior public relations major with a minor in psychology. She gained experience over the summer through her internship at Liggett Stashower, a communications agency in Cleveland, where she pitched to local and national media, wrote press materials and assisted in agency publicity. An active member of PRSSA since her sophomore year, Olivia is now the vice president of professional relations and coordinates the chapter’s meetings. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in the Cleveland area in agency public relations.

Erika Puch, of Carrollton, Ohio, is a senior public relations major and an applied conflict management minor. Erika has been a member of Phi Sigma Pi, national honors fraternity, for four years and is currently the chapter’s fundraising chair. In spring of 2006, she worked for the Daily Kent Stater as the recreation and wellness reporter. After graduating in December of 2007, Erika plans to practice public relations in a corporate or non-profit setting.

Anna Riggenbach, from Canton, Ohio, is a senior news major with a concentration in magazine journalism. Anna has been with University Communications and Marketing since January 2006 and joined Flash Communications in September 2007. She spent a semester studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, where she interned in the communications department of the World YWCA. After graduating in August 2008, she plans on staying at Kent State to pursue a master’s degree.

David Sugerman, of Cincinnati, Ohio is a senior English major and writing minor. He is scribe of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Involved in student media, David is the co-executive producer of Black Squirrel Radio’s The Postmodern Experience, and is treasurer of the National Broadcast Society. He intends to broaden his experience with different styles of writing and obtain vital professional experience through during his time at University Communications and Marketing.