Coe College

Krishen Narcelles graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in business administration and public relations. Krishen moved to New York City shortly after graduation to become a sales and marketing intern for NTT America. She was then hired full time and works as a marketing associate at the company’s office in Herndon, Va.

"Coe was not just a school I went to. It was my life for four years. It was the place where I realized what I wanted to do with my life and the college prepared me for it. My professors did not just talk at me in the classroom; they really cared about my future, helped me realize my potential, and encouraged me to go after what really mattered to me. The atmosphere in the Coe community is one that fosters the idea that you can do anything you want to do, and the faculty and staff will help you in any way they can to get you there. I'm living proof of that." - Krishen Narcelles '12

Katie Ricklefs graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in public relations and physical education, with a minor in writing. Currently living in Cedar Rapids, Katie works as a marketing and communications project leader at APAC Customer Services, Inc. Katie is responsible for creating well-written, client-specific proposals and presentations for a variety of business verticals.  She is also involved in community events and is a Blue Zones Ambassador for Cedar Rapids.

"I greatly appreciated the flexibility that that Coe Plan had to offer. I was able take a variety of courses that catered to my specific interests and goals. I never felt as though I was taking general education classes that did not apply to me. This is not to mention the emphasis that most professors put on writing, which was especially helpful as a student hoping to make a name for myself in the public relations industry." - Katie Ricklefs '11

Kara Klein graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in public relations and art. Before settling in the South, she lived in New York City interning in the marketing department at Everlast Worldwide and assisting in project management at the eFashion Solutions Photography Studio in Secaucus, N.J. Kara currently lives in Charleston, S.C., where she serves as the interactive communications coordinator at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.

"Attending a liberal arts college was a wonderful experience, and the Coe community is like a family. The small class sizes allowed me to build relationships with all of my classmates, and my teachers and advisors really took the time to know me. The administration at Coe is very personable, and you can learn a lot from your interactions with them. Small colleges afford you the opportunity to be involved in many extracurricular activities, and my roles in these organizations taught me time management and leadership skills that made for an easy transition into the working world." - Kara Klein '08

Kristy Upah Staker graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, triple majoring in public relations, writing and physical education with an emphasis in health and wellness. From May 2008 through June 2012, she served as the public relations coordinator, assistant director of parent programs, assistant volleyball coach, aerobics instructor, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes advisor at Coe College. Kristy is currently the community relations coordinator for Hy-Vee, assisting 14 Cedar Rapids and Marion Hy-Vee Food and Drugstores with marketing, social media correspondence, special programs and community-related events.

"I loved my experience at Coe, both as a student and member of the staff. During my undergraduate years, I learned invaluable lessons in the classroom and on the volleyball court about time management and communication. Internships, volunteer experiences and an assortment of campus involvements prepared me well for managing a wide variety of situations and most importantly – how to deal with people." - Kristy Upah Staker '08

Jenny Snyder graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in public relations and business administration, with a minor in economics. Jenny currently lives in Peoria, Illinois and works for the directional marketing agency, Marquette Group. As the Interactive Program Manager, Jenny oversees interactive advertising programs of corporate and local companies across the United States.

"College is something you always look forward to. It comes, it goes, and you'll never forget anything about it. The most prominent things Coe represents is its education and social life. The friends you meet will always be there for you, and your education will forever help you further your career. The experience was amazing and will be everlasting." - Jenny Snyder '07

Bri Axdahl graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in public relations and sociology. She is currently the Affiliate Marketing Manager for Go Daddy, in Hiawatha, Iowa. Bri is responsible for managing international affiliate partnerships, as well as overseeing customer offers for the affiliate channel.

"The connections I made at Coe and through my internship guided me in my transition into the working world. In several of my classes, we partnered with local businesses to work on real life public relations projects. Those experiences really prepared me for my career in the public relations field." - Bri Axdahl '05

Beth Trejo graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in public relations and Spanish, with a minor in art. Currently living in Sioux City, Iowa, Beth works as the Director of Investor Relations for the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. Previously, Trejo was the public relations and events coordinator for the Siouxland American Red Cross.

"During my time at Coe I was involved in several campus groups and internships. The experiences and education I gained from Coe have helped me tremendously in the workforce. The liberal arts philosophy of a well-rounded education has strengthened my communications skills and allows me to relate to a diverse array of people, situations and topics." - Beth Trejo '05

Chris Beck graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in public relations and theatre. He currently serves as the marketing director for Lazer 103.3 and Lite 104.1 after previously serving as the Marketing Director for 93.3 KIOA. Beck is also the internship manager for the Des Moines Radio Group in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Coe was a great experience, plain and simple. The public relations program offered at Coe gave me enough creative and technical expertise that easily transferred into a career!" - Chris Beck '03

Scott Holland graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English, with minors in theater and religion. Since Coe he has pursued careers in newspaper reporting, editing and commentary. After serving as the managing editor of the Independence Bulletin-Journal for 14 months, Holland became a general assignment reporter for the Clinton Herald. In February 2007, Holland relocated to Ottawa, Ill., to become the associate editor of The Times. In March 2009, he joined Holland Safety Equipment, a business started in 2003 by his parents, Gary and Kathy Thompson Holland (both Coe 1974), while continuing to work part time for The Times as a copy editor, columnist and page designer.

"I took the standard English classes, but getting involved in the liberal arts experience and having a broad background of different educational arenas helped me expand my horizons. My out-of-the-classroom experiences -- especially with music groups and Lambda Chi Alpha -- helped teach me about management, cooperation, making decisions and working with people." - Scott Holland '01