CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Career readiness is at the core of a Penn State education, and Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Mary Kate Maguire is helping future communications professionals prepare for their next steps. Now entering her third year as a marketing and communications specialist in strategic communications at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Maguire understands the power of expanding core messaging and crafting meaningful stories.
Recently invited to speak at the Oct. 7 Penn State Abington’s Corporate Communication Alumni Panel, Maguire shared her insights with a new generation of marketing and communications students preparing to enter the field. Her central message to them: build your career-ready skills early by seeking internships and expanding your professional network.
“I was fortunate to have an internship with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers,” Maguire said. “I had opportunities to interact with the media, community relations, sales and operations teams.”
Maguire emphasized the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing every opportunity to learn.
“Whether it was understanding the value of internal communications or managing the details of highly visible events, every experience taught me an important skill and lesson,” she said.
That internship also offered a chance to give back.
“Through the team’s volunteer program, we helped renovate affordable housing in Allentown,” Maguire recalled.
A 2022 graduate of Penn State Abington’s corporate communication program, Maguire launched her marketing career through LionLink, where she gained hands-on experience in social media management and graphic design. She went on to support messaging at a local country club and, after graduation, served as the marketing director for a Chick-fil-A franchise. Her commitment to creative excellence helped the store achieve new revenue growth by maximizing the impact of community events and implementing innovative digital strategies.
The panel discussion also highlighted how students in their junior and senior years can prepare for highly competitive careers in communications and marketing.
“Right now, it’s a challenging employment market for communications professionals,” Maguire said. “To stand out, it’s important to be well-rounded. Take what you learn in the classroom and make it marketable by showing that you have in-demand skills and real-world experience.”
As part of the strategic communications team, Maguire oversees a range of projects that elevate the Lehigh Valley campus. One current initiative is a web and social media series spotlighting Penn State Lehigh Valley’s program coordinators. The campaign will feature video interviews, program fact sheets, alumni stories and short-form social clips that highlight the campus’s four-year degree programs.
But her impact extends well beyond that one project. Known across campus as a photographer, videographer and digital marketing expert, Maguire works to help tell the Lehigh Valley community’s best stories — from faculty achievements and student life to admissions and enrollment initiatives.