At Air Waves, we believe partnering with universities and colleges is vital in setting up students and recent graduates for success as they start on their career paths. Through job fairs, alumni networking, and other opportunities, Air Waves has connected with qualified, motivated, and creative individuals that have become a part of our team.
We had the opportunity to connect with a few former Flashes to learn more about how their time spent at Kent State University helped shape them into the team members they are today.
Hayden Knapp, ‘18
Q: What did you study during your time at Kent State, and were you a part of any groups or organizations that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
HK: I studied Computer Science during my time at Kent State. A few fellow classmates and I would also go to hackathons and other programming competitions to learn more about the career field we were studying.
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
HK: Algorithms helped me understand that complex problems often have simple solutions.
Q: Is there a staff or faculty member at Kent State that had an impact on your education/career that you would like to give a shout-out to?
HK: Greg DeLozier, because he preferred to teach practical skills rather than theoretical ones, which helped with getting a job.
Tiffani Wilson, ‘10
Q: What did you study during your time at Kent State, and were you a part of any groups or organizations that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
TW: I studied Fashion Merchandising at Kent State. I didn’t join any groups or organizations while I was at Kent, but I fully supported the local Starbucks across the street from the fashion school ?
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
TW: I would actually say I had a few classes and projects that I completed that helped me prepare, including Fashion Apparel Analysis, CAD for Fashion Applications and a Seminar in Fashion Merchandising.
Q: How did Kent State help prepare you for your career?
TW: The fashion school at Kent State is in the top 3 in the nation. The courses are all based around real-life scenarios and the professors have real-life experience to share. The faculty and passion they share for the various subjects along with availability to their students. I have still kept in contact with some of my professors for 10+ years since graduating. I’ve never been more proud of my education and a piece of paper than I am with my KSU Fashion Merchandising Degree!
Q: Is there a staff or faculty member at Kent State that had an impact on your education/career that you would like to give a shout-out to?
TW: Yes! William Perrine. Not only his dedication to the fashion school, the subjects he teaches but his famous “Williams Advice” that he gives to his senior-level classes at the end of the semester truly made an impact on my career and outlook on my professional life.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your time at Kent State?
TW: When I started my college adventure I explored many majors and universities but none compared to the experience I had at KSU when it came to student life and even more so the leveled-up fashion education I received.
Having a KSU fashion degree opens doors and provides a large networking group of alumni all over that you never knew existed or needed. It’s incredible to look back on all my professional adventures along with friendships I have found over the years and know they were all made possible because of my education from the fashion school.
Rachel Hall, ‘14
Q: What did you study during your time at Kent State, and were you a part of any groups or organizations that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
RH: I studied Fashion Merchandising and Marketing at Kent State.
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
RH: In my Product Development class, we had to create a new clothing brand. We created a press release, mockups of the clothes and the storefront. We also had to scout out a location in the area we could prove would be a good fit for a new store. It taught me a lot about what really went into launching your own brand and how all the different factors are important in making sure your business thrives.
Q: How did Kent State help prepare you for your career?
RH: Kent State provided me with the knowledge I needed to pursue a career in the fashion industry. The projects we worked on translated well into the sort of work I’ve done within my jobs after graduating. Being able to do an internship abroad or in New York City is also an amazing advantage in the fashion program. It gives you more of a hands-on experience and can sometimes transition into a job offer.
Sarah Murphy, ‘16
Q: What did you study during your time at Kent State, and were you a part of any groups or organizations that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
SM: I majored in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Accessory Design. I was also a part of the Fashion Student Organization and a few study abroad programs.
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
SM: I took a fashion technologies class that reviewed different applications that you would be using in your career including Excel, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Being familiar with those applications before beginning my career was extremely helpful!
Q: How did Kent State help prepare you for your career?
SM: Kent State gave a wonderful overview of the different career paths within the fashion industry and gave the students the tools they needed to follow their desired path.
Q: Is there a staff or faculty member at Kent State that had an impact on your education/career that you would like to give a shout-out to?
SM: Dr. Leslie taught my fashion fundamentals course when I first started at Kent State. Her passion and excitement for the fashion industry was very inspiring to all her students!
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your time at Kent State?
SM: The study abroad programs were one of my favorite college experiences! Kent State gave me the opportunity to learn about the fashion industry in Hong Kong, Florence, and NYC. Those experiences gave me a deeper understanding of the fashion industry as a whole.
Kylie Parker, ‘17
Q: What did you study during your time at Kent State, and were you a part of any groups or organizations that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
KP: My major was in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Fashion Media.
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
KP: The classes that incorporated Adobe Suite applications like Photoshop and Illustrator helped me in several job settings.
Q: How did Kent State help prepare you for your career?
KP: Kent State has taught me several skills throughout my attendance. And overall had a great learning experience.
Q: Is there a staff or faculty member at Kent State that had an impact on your education/career that you would like to give a shout-out to?
KP: Dr. Leslie was the best instructor that I had while at the Fashion School. Her passion really helped me get excited about the course material.
Where Will You Go Next?
Are you a current Kent State University student interested in joining the Air Waves team? Visit our careers page to view open positions or connect with us to see if we will be at your school’s next job fair.
