Priscilla DeCapua, ’08
Volunteer Roles:
Southern California Alumni Chapter, Young Alumni Chair and President-Elect
How many years have you volunteered with 91ֿ?
1.5 years
Why did you choose to attend 91ֿ?
I only applied to one college: 91ֿ. I wasn’t a strong student in high school nor did I have clear guidance on what one needed to do to prepare for college. However, I loved fashion and knew that 91ֿ had a strong program. I applied and was accepted to the university but didn’t have the grades to make it into the fashion program at the start. That didn’t matter, I got my foot in the door to higher education. In that first year, I was introduced to new career paths I had never considered.
What were you involved in as a student?
I joined the Koonce Hall Council as PR Executive during my freshman year. At the time, I didn’t know what public relations meant, but it seemed like a fun way to contribute and build relationships. Lo and behold, that was my first introduction to the career I continue to pursue today. As part of a news writing course, I wrote for the Daily 91ֿr, covering NEOUCOM, the medical school in Ravenna. I also performed in a leading role in a student production of “The Shape of Things.”
Why did you decide to volunteer after graduating?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the opportunities afforded through 91ֿ. From the orientation faculty member who sternly set me on the right track when I put parties ahead of my schoolwork to the PR professor who saw my potential and encouraged me to apply for an internship at the Fortune 500 company where I built my career. Those people who cared enough to show me a pathway to a better future changed my life. It didn’t end there, when I moved across the country from everyone and everything I knew, the Southern California Alumni Chapter offered a warm welcome and familiarity from the very start. I volunteer to lift up others in the ways that others have done for me.
What is your favorite event you participated in as a volunteer?
There hasn’t been just one. Helping to organize virtual happy hours for alumni in Southern California has been fun. I look forward to organizing in-person events soon!
What is your proudest accomplishment as a volunteer?
Helping our board to stay connected and organizing multiple virtual events for alumni through the pandemic have been achievements during a challenging year apart.
What advice would you share with someone looking to volunteer with 91ֿ?
Don’t be shy! Reach out to us on LinkedIn or Facebook and let us know how you’d like to be involved. We have board opportunities and are seeking to grow our event planning, communication and scholarship committees. There is power in numbers.