Montclair CCOM Alumni Spotlight: From Student Athlete to Communications Professional at Exelon

Claudia Challender (‘23) knew Montclair was the right fit for her the moment she stepped on campus.

“After touring Montclair for the first time, I immediately knew it would be a great fit for me to pursue a BA in Communication and Media Studies,” she said.  

During her time at Montclair, Challender immersed herself in academic and extracurricular experiences that helped shape her career path. She credits the faculty and staff in the College of Communication and Media (CCOM), including academic advisor Jill Siroty, with helping her build a strong foundation in workplace culture and professional communication.

Outside the classroom, Challender balanced academics with the demands of being a college athlete on the university’s field hockey team, an experience she said strengthened her time management skills and reinforced the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Hands-on coursework also played a key role in her career development. Through Hawk Communications, a student-run public relations and strategic communications agency led by Professor Keith Green, she gained real-world experience working directly with clients.

“I helped manage social media and execute targeted outreach for a nonprofit client, which taught me how to collaborate effectively, understand audience needs, and produce meaningful, results‑driven storytelling.” 

Challender said she prioritized gaining professional experience early, applying for internships well before her senior year to build her resume and portfolio. That preparation ultimately led to a full-time opportunity with Exelon, where she now works on the marketing and communications team.

She describes the role as “fast-paced, innovative and impactful,” with responsibilities ranging from drafting employee communications to writing articles and collaborating across teams.

“No two days are the same, and that variety has allowed me to grow tremendously, from intern to a full‑time communications professional in the energy industry.” 

Reflecting on her experience, Challender emphasizes that success in the communications field goes beyond technical ability.

She encourages students to focus on building strong professional relationships, noting that connections and collaboration often play a key role in long-term career growth. Staying informed on emerging tools, including artificial intelligence platforms, is also becoming increasingly important to keep with industry trends.

Her advice to students is to gain experience as early as possible and be intentional about building their professional portfolios.

“My biggest piece of advice is to prioritize internships, co‑ops, or contract work as early as possible. Start building your resume before you graduate so you can clearly speak to the impact you’ve made.” 

From balancing academics and college athletics to building real-world experience through client-based coursework, Challender’s journey reflects the value of taking initiative and fully engaging in opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. The foundation she built at Montclair serves as a reminder to start early, stay adaptable and make the most of all opportunities to succeed. 

Written by, Ioanna Tsompanellis

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Prospective Students and Parents: Plan your visit and take your first step in applying to become a Red Hawk. Learn more about our seven undergraduate programs including Communication and Media Studies College of Communication and Media.

About the College of Communication and Media: The College of Communication and Media (CCOM) offers a range of dynamic programs to a talented and diverse student population of over 2,000. Offering degrees in advertising, animation and visual effects, communication and media studies, film and television, journalism and digital media, social media and public relations, sports communication and an online, asynchronous MA devoted to strategic communication and media, the College prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. Founded in 2012 and housed in world-class, state-of-the-art facilities just 12 miles from New York City, the College is the only program in the country that offers the following opportunities for students: a radio station (WMSC), newspaper (The Montclarion), strategic communications agency (Hawk Communications), sports network (Red Hawk Sports Network) streaming platform (Hawk+), digital newsroom (News Lab) and studio, and a social media listening center (Joetta DiBella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication). The College also has a Student Success team, including dedicated Career Services and Advising professionals who prepare students for the internship and job search process. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA’s Bateman Competition, an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and College Television Awards (“Student Emmy” awards) from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The College is also home to the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism and media. Through $7.1M in grants awarded over the last five years, the Center focuses on collaboration in journalism, media equity, media coaching and training, civic science and research. The Center is also home to the NJ Civic Information Consortium, the largest funder of media and journalism in  New Jersey, granting more than $10M over the last five years to support independent local media, journalism and training initiatives.