Through SOC3, an integrated creative agency within American University School of Communication (AU SOC), former students are returning as clients, offering current students the chance to take on real-world communications challenges. Hurst Senior Professional Lecturer and SOC3’s Faculty Director Pallavi Kumar says this steady stream of alumni involvement is no coincidence, it is the result of years of networking and relationship building. “Both Sarah McDonald and Dave McNamee actually reached out to me after seeing SOC3’s work on LinkedIn and Instagram,” she explained. “They were the ones who wanted to work with us. That’s the power of raising our profile - when alumni see what we are doing on campus, they want to give back.”

This powerful network has attracted top-tier clients, including The Home Depot, represented by McDonald, Director of Public Affairs and Community Investments Communications, and Expedia, represented by McNamee, former Vice President of Global Corporate Communications. But sometimes, coincidence plays a role too. Professor Kumar recalled unexpectedly reconnecting with alumna Liz Risoldi, Executive Vice President at Zeno Group, during a Zoom call. “I realized I still had her media kit from 2008, and still remember her project for the Seed Public Charter School. . It was such a serendipitous and proud moment to both see her in a senior role and provide our Spring 2024 client, ALDI.”

Other alumni, like Alana Kasindorf, former Social Impact Manager at Nestlé, first entered SOC3’s orbit as a guest lecturer before becoming a client themselves. Nestlé even sponsored a student field trip. “That kind of back-and-forth—where alumni support students and then become partners—is exactly what makes SOC3 special,” Professor Kumar noted.

What makes these partnerships so powerful is the inspiration they bring to current students. Seeing alumni holding senior roles at companies like The Home Depot, Expedia, Zeno Group and Nestlé shows students what is possible. “It’s so inspiring for them to realize, this person once stood in my shoes, and now they’re at a global brand,” Professor Kumar said. “It gives them a vision for their own careers.”

Alumni also benefit from these collaborations. Many have said they appreciate the chance to shape the next generation of communicators. For McDonald, the AU network was crucial when she graduated during a tough job market, and she sees working with SOC3 as a way to pay it forward. Professor Kumar emphasizes that alumni are consistently impressed with the quality of student work. “They’ve been blown away. If you look at our testimonials, you’ll see the pride they take in partnering with us.”

Every alumni connection is, in Professor Kumar’s view, a success story. She hopes even more former SOC alumni will reach out after hearing about SOC3. “There’s nothing more special than having current students work with alumni. It not only helps students’ careers but also strengthens the AU network in ways that last far beyond the classroom.”

Ultimately, SOC3 is not just about the projects students complete but about the community they join. Alumni remind students that the work they do now has the potential to help them grow into meaningful professional careers. Their stories show current SOC3 members what is possible and underscore the idea that AU connections last far beyond graduation. In many ways, SOC3 becomes a bridge between where students are and where they hope to go, a place where learning meets opportunity, and where the cycle of support continues with each new generation of communicators.