by Delaney LePage
The Harrington School has hired event expert, Sarah Daly-Van Oot, as a temporary, full-time lecturer of communication studies and public relations. Daly-Van Oot received her master’s degree in integrated marketing communication from Emerson College and her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Simmons University.

Daly-Van Oot brings over 20 years of marketing and event management experience to the Harrington School. When she first graduated, she worked at GTECH Corporation in its marketing department. She moved to San Diego to work as the brand market manager for Lucky Strike Tobacco, where she was responsible for all the company’s branding and events in the city. She eventually found herself back in her home state of Rhode Island. Recognizing her passion for event management, Daly-Van Oot started her own local company, Sarah Daly Events, where she has planned and managed corporate, nonprofit and social events.

Daly Van-Oot knew public relations and event management was the best career fit for her because she loved the mix of creativity and business savvy the profession required.

“I love that it is a mix of creative vision with business sense,” Daly-VanOot said. “You get to be creative and problem solve. No two days are ever alike.”

Daly-Van Oot believes in the experiential focus of the Harrington School and the public relations program, in particular. This semester, her introductory public relations students worked with Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County on a social media campaign to create awareness for a Domestic Violence Awareness Month event in October. She hopes to further that connection next semester when she teaches her event management class. In addition, she intends to work with other area nonprofits such as the Jonnycake Center to help students gain real-world experience.