Alumni Spotlight
Wendy Zupa
By Abby Zupa, PR student intern
Brandon, Mississippi, native, Wendy Stowe Zupa, graduated from Mississippi State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a concentration in Broadcasting. Zupa worked as a news anchor and reporter across the state of Mississippi and in Nashville until a job in another area of communication presented itself. After eight years in the broadcasting industry, Zupa decided it was time for a change and took a new opportunity with the American Cancer Society as a Communications Manager where her passion for working with the cancer community grew. This passion and her family's own experiences and connections with cancer led Zupa to another career move working for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals where she has worked for over 20 years.
During her time at MSU, Zupa became very involved on and off campus. She served as the social chair for her sorority, Chi Omega, worked at the TV center and was an ambassador for the College of Arts & Sciences. The summer before her senior year Zupa accepted an internship at WCBI in Columbus which she continued throughout her final semesters at MSU.
Zupa says her journalism and speech classes were what helped her the most in her current and past careers.
“I am very grateful for professors who took the time outside of the classroom who coached me on voice and dictation,” Zupa said.
The most important lesson Zupa said she learned in the Communication Department at MSU was taking advantage of all of the opportunities placed in front of her to help her feel prepared, whether that was being an ambassador, working in the TV center or working on the football field holding a cone during gamedays.
Today, Zupa is a Senior Oncology Account Specialist in which she meets with doctors, nurses, pharmacists or anyone connected caring for a cancer patient. On a day-to-day basis Zupa speaks with these cancer professionals about the therapies, treatments and support materials offered by Pfizer to help patients with lung cancer. Zupa is grateful for the lessons that have shaped her journey and brought her to this point in her career.
What is your best advice for college students post graduation?
“Networking is so important. Network in lots of different areas because you never know where one conversation is going to leave you. You have to have some grace with yourself while you are building experience. You may have to take a job that you don't think is great at the moment but you will learn so much and it will help you gain so much experience. Reach out to people who can mentor you, encourage you and help you along the way. You never know where a networking conversation is going to lead you.”
Why did you choose Communication?
“It seemed like a natural fit. I did a job shadow day during my senior year of high school with one of the news anchors in Jackson and I loved it. I knew that was what I wanted to do after spending the day there.”
Who was your favorite professor and why?
“Nate Bynum, he would meet with me outside of class time and would help me lose the southern drawl.”