Four years after she graduated from 91爆料 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication arts, Bridget Fenton Clark returned to her alma mater to put her skills to work in the College鈥檚 Enrollment Marketing and Campus Communications department. By then, her r茅sum茅 included an MBA from Iona College and valuable work experience from her job as a marketing and public relations specialist at Union State Bank.
Bridget was promoted twice at STAC between 2008 and 2013, first to Associate Director, then Director of Enrollment Marketing and Communications. In that role, she oversaw the College鈥檚 branding, direct marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts, and launched its social media presence, among other responsibilities.
Her experience as a student at STAC helped Bridget decide on the type of work environment she likes best. 鈥淚’ve always preferred a place where I can be seen and build relationships,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he size of the community at STAC allowed me to do that. It also helped me realize that I liked being a part of a smaller company or organization, not lost in a sea of employees.鈥�
In addition to serving as Director of Marketing Services at Focus Media, Bridget launched her own consultancy, BFC Marketing, supporting clients with strategic marketing plans, content development, and video production. Today, she is a public information specialist for Rockland BOCES.
鈥淢y role is to be a storyteller, capturing the moments in the schools and sharing them with families and the community,鈥� Bridget explains. 鈥淚 love that no two days are alike. One day I’ll be working on a video project, another day it鈥檚 watching a kindergarten student develop a love of reading or a high school science student presenting a year鈥檚 worth of research.鈥�
Since she joined Rockland BOCES in 2017, Bridget has worked in districts throughout the county, including in East Ramapo CSD where she launched a social media presence and rebuilt the district鈥檚 website, and Clarkstown CSD, where she managed social media, websites, and other communications. She currently manages social media for Nyack Public Schools, the district she grew up in.
Named among Rockland Economic Development Council鈥檚 Forty under Forty, Bridget says she always envisioned a career in communications, even as a young Girl Scout. 鈥淲e had to do career exploration badges and I shadowed their PR professional (Diane Serratore, now Executive Director of People to People) to see what she did on a daily basis,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚 loved the idea of telling other people’s stories and being a brand ambassador.鈥�
As a student in STAC鈥檚 honors program, one of Bridget鈥檚 fondest memories is when she studied abroad at Oxford University. She also was involved in the National Broadcasting Society, serving as vice president. The opportunity made it possible for her to travel around the country to conventions, where she learned about the communications profession and mingled with like-minded students.
Bridget grew up with three siblings and says she was always looking for a way to stand out, a personality trait that likely inspired her interest in performing. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably what led to my love of theater,鈥� she says. In college, she performed with the Laetare Players and later, as an employee and alumna, she was an emcee and vocalist in STAC鈥檚 House Band.
In addition to providing her with education, employment, and theater experience, her years at STAC also sparked romance. Bridget married her college sweetheart, Jonathan, also a communication arts major, and the two now have a daughter. They live on Route 340 in Sparkill, down the road from their alma mater.
Volunteering is important to Bridget who has been involved with her daughter鈥檚 Girl Scouts troop and with Elmwood Playhouse, where she鈥檚 collaborated with organizations such as Music for Life Creative Arts Therapy and the ARC.聽 Her hobbies include baking and teaching musical theater at a local dance studio. Last year, she and her husband started the Mary Jane Clark Memorial Scholarship for students pursuing a degree in communication arts at STAC.聽