Kylie Engleman ’25, public relations, is passionate about communication, storytelling, and exploring new opportunities. At URI, she embraced the flexibility of the public relations program, discovering new interests like broadcast production while gaining real-world experience through internships and campus involvement. Her time at URI has set her on an exciting path, continuing her career with Sandia National Laboratories after graduation.
Why did you choose URI and the public relations program?
I chose URI because of its beautiful campus and its perfect location near the beach. When I was growing up, my uncle was stationed in Rhode Island with the Coast Guard. During one visit, we made a few wrong turns heading to an event and ended up on URI’s campus by accident. Even though college was still years away for me, something about the campus and the charm of the surrounding coastal towns stayed with me. When it finally came time to apply to colleges, URI felt like the right place without a second thought.
What is something special about the public relations program at URI?
The public relations program at URI stands out because it feels like a “choose your own adventure” experience. While there are core requirements, students have the freedom to focus on areas like event planning, social media or marketing. Thanks to that flexibility, I have been able to explore career paths I never even thought about. Right now, in my last semester, I am taking a broadcast studio production class where I have learned about lighting, camera work, audio and more. It has quickly become one of my favorite classes in my entire time at URI.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I am excited to share that after graduation, I will be staying in Rhode Island to continue my remote internship with Sandia National Laboratories as a full-time employee.
What is your favorite memory at URI?
Living in Wiley Hall with my four best friends during sophomore year is my favorite memory at URI. It felt like we had our own little apartment, and being together under one roof made that year incredibly special. It was by far the best year of college.
What is something you would tell your freshman-year self?
I would tell myself to take every opportunity to try new things and meet new people. You never know who might open the door to your next big adventure. Even my job with the Harrington Social Media Agency came about by chance, but it ended up being a major highlight of my college experience and helped set me on a great path for the future.