Katie Foley (BA '15) is a woman of many talents and wears many hats. From professor to mom to communications professional, there is seemingly nothing Foley can not do. Foley’s story is one of adaptability, resilience and continuous learning.
Inspired by her mother, what started as an intended career in nursing quickly switched to a career in communications, which has led to almost a decade in communications.
Foley began her journey at Anderson University and quickly became interested in communications.
“I remember it was right when Twitter was becoming hot, I was sitting in a journalism class and looked up to Dr. Baird and said, there's a bombing at the Boston Marathon. Dr. Baird put on the news, and we talked through what was happening. That was the moment where I realized there's a lot of richness in communication.”
After graduation, Foley dove into various areas of public relations, from agencies to internal and external communications. She also earned her master's degree in public relations.
Working in agencies and experiencing different types of communication paths allowed Foley to slow down and focus on the type of work environment she needed.
“The Lord opened up my eyes to what I wanted as a professional, what I needed and the types of people I wanted to work for along with what that looked like.”
Through this, Foley discovered Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc. (IEA), a leading provider of infrastructure solutions specializing in renewable energy and heavy civil construction projects across the United States. At IEA, she handled media relations, launched an internal app and implemented the company's first maternity leave policy. Foley said the support of the company made the job feel more like a family. After the company was acquired during her pregnancy with her son, Foley transitioned to the role of stay-at-home mom, which eventually led her to become an adjunct professor at Anderson University.
Foley reflects on the best advice her father has given her and advice she encourages others to apply to their lives, “You always have to be a sponge because that is how people will want to pour into you that is how you will learn. [People] don’t want to pour into a brick, the succession of a brick could look strong, but if it's just one by itself it's weak.”
Emma Wyatt is a senior from Corryton, Tennessee, majoring in public relations and musical theatre. Wyatt is an associate with Fifth Street Communications, a student-run public relations agency at Anderson University.
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