Flyers in Chicago brings University of Dayton public relations seniors to one of the nation’s top communication hubs for an immersive experience visiting major PR agencies and mingling with the expansive UD alumni community that calls Chicago home.
The annual trip, held this year from Sept. 18-20, helps students make sense of the fast-moving world of public relations and the skills it demands, while also giving them the opportunity to network with alumni and build connections they can rely on after graduating.
Haley Reid, senior account executive for UD’s student-run Flyer Public Relations, said she opted into the trip as soon as the opportunity was presented to her.
“With the University's enhanced commitment to experiential learning, having the chance to meet with highly-regarded strategic communication professionals in a city with such a profound UD alumni network made me so excited,” said Reid, a communication and political science major from Toledo.
The trip was modeled after UD’s successful Flyers in Hollywood program, where media production students meet entertainment professionals and alumni in Los Angeles. Flyer Media Director Pat Enright, said extending the idea to public relations students made sense.
“We have a ton of alumni in Chicago there,” he said. “There’s a huge PR concentration there and a lot of different firms.”
Enright helped lead the trip alongside Natasha Baker, UD Department of Communication senior lecturer and Flyer Public Relations advisor. They planned the trip during the summer, drawing on contacts from their own careers prior to teaching to curate a mix of agencies and organizations that highlight the range of opportunities available in the field.
This year’s itinerary included visits to Burson, one of the largest global public relations agencies; the Lyric Opera of Chicago, which offers competitive internships in departments including marketing and communications; and the Shedd Aquarium, whose marketing team works across conservation issues throughout the region.
For Elisabeth Gromofsky, a communication major from Wadsworth, Ohio, Flyers in Chicago offered a chance to explore potential career paths. She said her most impactful meeting was with the team at the nonprofit Shedd Aquarium, where she saw how PR shows up in unexpected settings.
At UD, PR students learn about potential careers throughout their coursework. For many students, the trip made difficult class concepts feel concrete. Baker said that’s exactly why having this experience available matters.
“It was great to see students make these connections,” Baker said. “You might have a degree in PR, but that doesn’t mean you’re just going to be out there talking to the media every day. There are all these other ways you can connect interests you have in a particular cause you may not have thought of.”
Reid said the experience positively reinforced her perception of working in public relations as a way to utilize powerful storytelling and allowed her to practice professional communication in real time.
“Asking questions that create conversation and actively listening were two skills that I practiced throughout the trip,” Reid said. “Learning from some of Chicago's best PR professionals was an honor I was well aware of, so I was determined to make every moment count by showing a genuine interest in their insights.”
Enright and Baker personally contact Chicago-area communication alumni to connect with the seniors, but UD graduates from any major are welcome to participate. The group typically meets at establishments popular with UD graduates and Flyer fans, creating a familiar and relaxed space for students and alumni to meet and share their experiences.
“I think the alumni event is super important,” Enright said. “Talking to UD grads who were in the same course as they were in, talking about how important those classes were, how they use that class work in their day to day jobs — I think that’s really important for the seniors to hear.”
Chicago-area alumnus Brayden Chayer ’24 attended the alumni event and enjoyed talking with the seniors and sharing advice he wished he had known during his time at UD.
“What stuck out almost immediately was I had that feeling like I was back in Dayton — back at home,” Chayer said. “The energy and connection that Flyers hold is extremely powerful and I just absolutely love that.”
The connections built throughout the trip reinforced how strong and wide-reaching the UD network is, especially in a city like Chicago.
“The goal of Flyers in Chicago is to open their eyes to all the opportunities that are out there and give them a taste of all the things they can do with a PR degree,” Enright said.