Paul Steinmetz

Paul Steinmetz is Director of University Relations (PR) here at WCSU. A typical day for Steinmetz is spent talking up the university and just getting the word out that we are not just another lame state university. Parents are his main focus along with seventeen and eighteen year olds who will soon be looking into college. Getting WCSU out on the map with businesses also gets donations for the university which are always welcome! Steinmetz also does a lot of damage and image control for the university. Just last week we had our first H1N1 (swine flu) case here on campus and his job was to "make parents feel safe sending you guys here." Emails were sent out immediatly, followed by letters to students homes.

Steinmetz started out at a community college in California, where he grew up and a newswriting class was what he first fell in love with. Steinmetz knew this is what he wanted to do and after graduation found himself working the midnight shift at a local paper. A few months passed and when the oportunity to move to daytime shifts he took it! After three years it was time to send out his resume and one of them just so happend to find its way to The News Times here in Danbury, CT. So Paul filled the car his parents gave him with all his belongings and made the LONG drive to Connecticut.

Paul started as a reporter for The News Times and throughout his 24 year career made his way up to Editor. Paul went on to talk about journalism being a very on demand job but he didnt realize this until after he was fired and "the adrenaline was gone." A month later he found himself here at WCSU first as a part time gig which later turned into a full time position as the Director.

What I really liked about our talk with Paul Steinmetz is all the advise he gave us. Our class has all different grade levels but we are all going to graduate one day (lets hope!) and he had some very usefull things to say. "Emerge yourself into the online," said Steinmetz, "because thats where all the jobs will be."

I did get a lot out of our little meet and greet and actually had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Steinmetz speak twice, the other time being in my Editorial Environment class. I think it is very important to talk to people who were and are in the business. They know whats going on and how to really make a name for yourself.