Although Shenandoah wasn’t Tana Bartek Korpics’ ’08 first choice, she quickly realized that transferring to the university during the second half of her freshman year was the best decision she made during her academic career.
“After attending my ‘dream’ school for one semester, I realized I had made a mistake,” said Korpics. “I now had a new dream, and that dream included SU’s beautiful campus, the quaintness of the city and how much the administrators and educators at SU cared and the Mass Communications department. In my heart I knew I was a Hornet.”
Korpics loved the endless opportunities Shenandoah offered her (like interning with ABC Channel 6 and spending the day with American author Asra Nomani) and being able to tailor her education to her interests and academic goals. Korpics even started the Facebook page for the university during her time as a student.
“Thinking about my time at SU is definitely a very happy place for me,” said Korpics. “I played on the softball team that had great players and even greater leaders, and my academic career was fostered by amazing women and men. There was not a moment I regret or would like to do-over in my time there.”
Korpics is the public relations and communications manager at in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In this position, she is the official spokesperson of the amusement park, which involves leading the public relations department to generate positive publicity through news media, community relations, social media, online advertising and brand storytelling. She develops an annual press release and media pitch plan, handles all media communications relating to crisis situations, develops/implements the overall digital strategy to drive brand engagement and sales while maintaining a superior customer experience across digital platforms (website, apps, social media and CRM/email marketing). She is also responsible for integrated campaign management, which includes content creation, videography, analytical reporting, website management, crisis communication, photography and blogging.
Korpics says the most rewarding part of her position is, “being able to mentor college students in the communications field through public relations and communications internships I offer each season.” She credits her professors at Shenandoah for inadvertently teaching her how to be a great mentor for those who look up and reach out to her.
Korpics believes her Shenandoah education prepared her for her career by giving her the chance to take courses that were not offered at other schools. She received real-life, hands-on experience with her internships through SUTV and ABC Channel 6. She not only gained knowledge and skills from her courses and internships, but also through the mentors and leaders of the Mass Communications department, which readied her for life and the future. Korpics is forever grateful to Professor of Mass Communications and Lin Rong San Chair Gina Daddario, Ph.D., Associate Provost Amy Sarch, Ph.D., Professor of Sports Management Brian Wigley, Ed.D., former Assistant Professor of Mass Communications Tiffany Shoop and former business school dean Miles Davis, Ph.D.
“They absolutely helped me find my way as a young adult,” said Korpics. “I am honored to have been educated by them, and mentored by them. They changed my life – and helped me understand and become who I am today.”
Korpics’ advice to students is: “Focus, work hard and don’t always take no for an answer.”