Jessica Sklar, KLN ’19, studied abroad in London through Klein College of Media and Communication’s Klein Global Opportunities program (Klein GO), and her time abroad laid the foundation for her career today.
The New Jersey native started at Temple University without declaring a major. She then decided to study communication studies at Klein College. Eventually, she switched her major to strategic communications.
“I always liked reading and writing, and that’s what drew me into Klein,” said Sklar.
Klein College’s status as its own school appealed to her. Many other universities incorporate media and communication disciplines into pre-established colleges, but students at Temple University make full use of the opportunities that come with being in a program dedicated to communications.
“I was really impressed with the program because it’s so large and so well-connected,” she said. “It’s its own fully developed school, and that was really attractive to me.”
During her time at Klein College, Sklar spent a semester in London, where she landed her very first role as an intern. She was a marketing and communications intern at a nonprofit organization that focused on advanced research for visual impairments. Sklar noted that this opportunity was the beginning of her career.
“It was my first step into the world of communication,” she said.
Back in the United States, Sklar had two more internships at public relations (PR) agencies. At these agencies, she worked on media monitoring, pitching and writing.
After graduation, she went on to work at a PR agency in Washington, D.C., developing a strong interest in internal communications and employee advocacy. Sklar decided to return to London to get a master’s degree in organizational psychology.
“I wanted to switch from traditional PR to employee engagement,” she said. “I was really interested in how to support people who are going through something in their organization.”
Once Sklar obtained her degree, she began working at an energy company in the transformation communication department. Then, she switched roles once again and began working in her current role at an agency as an account director for the internal communications team. She believes that her time at Klein College facilitated the transition into her professional life.
“It really set me up so that when I was first starting my career, I wasn’t so surprised,” she said. “I came in feeling totally prepared and equipped to dive in and start helping.”
She recommends that students who are interested in studying abroad or working internationally should take the opportunity to do so.
“It’s useful to come in with a different perspective as an American,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to bring a more global point of view to a company.”
Klein GO currently offers multiple London study abroad programs. Hannah Braid Sugg, assistant director of Klein EDGE at Klein College, said that these programs are meant to aid students in developing their careers.
“Our focus is on professional development,” she said. “When we go there, we’re visiting businesses. We’re going to workshops, talking to professionals and freelancers.”
Sugg mentioned that while traveling alone can be frightening, Klein College does their best to ensure that students feel comfortable. Students are placed into a class before going abroad, and they meet their peers and form a community that they can rely on while traveling.
“I know it’s scary sometimes, especially if you’ve never traveled without your family, but you should just do it," she said.
For a full list of Klein GO offerings, visit https://temple-smcsa.terradotta.com/_portal/