Megan Solensky ’23

“As Community Relations Specialist at the Community Blood Bank, I serve as the organization’s public-facing liaison. It’s my job to maintain relationships with community groups, media contacts, and partner organizations to raise awareness about blood donation. I coordinate and lead outreach events and donor-recruitment initiatives as well as manage communications (social media, press releases, educational materials).

“Eastern offered me affordable in-state tuition without sacrificing resources. Through Dr. Utterback, the Communications Department has so many connections as well as the technology needed to get lots of hands-on experience. The smaller classes gave me lots of opportunities and I had a fraction of the student loan debt than if I would’ve chosen a different school.

“Working in media services grew my technical knowledge and prepared me for my first job as a news reporter. Lisa H. did a phenomenal job preparing me with hands-on experience before I went into my first job.

“A major part of my job is storytelling. Potential donors connect and resonate with the stories of donors and recipients. At Eastern, I learned a lot from my experiences in ETV and on WECS Radio. I encourage anyone who will be in a public speaking role to join these clubs and learn how to present, use their voice, and learn how to engage with an audience.”