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“The beauty of having a Communication Studies degree is that you are an expert at communicating, so you can talk, understand, and listen. All of my professors did this so well which really made a huge impact on my life.”

Paul Starr | Communication Studies | Class of 2002

Communication Studies alumnus Paul Starr’s career has consisted of interacting with the Mars Rover and International Space Station, and even helping fight the COVID-19 virus. As the Director of Sales and Customer Engagement at Newark Electronics, Starr, '02, has combined his love for interpersonal communication and business management.

Newark Electronics is part of the Advent Company, which is the world’s second largest distributor of electronic components. Starr is responsible for communicating with the company’s sales team in both India and Richfield, Ohio, and exchanging ideas on how best to engage with internal customers about different topics. Those ideas recently have included discussions about how to get electronic parts to manufacturers so they can make ventilators for COVID-19 patients all over the world.

In this leadership role, Starr has found it necessary to be able to build trust and a welcoming environment to those he interacts with each day.

“I have to take good care and have to be responsible for the people who are setting out on the missions I direct," he says.

Starr credits his Communications Studies degree and the professors he interacted with each day during his undergrad for a lot of the success he has experienced in his career.

“The beauty of having a Communication Studies degree is that you are an expert at communicating, so you can talk, understand, and listen. All of my professors did this so well which really made a huge impact on my life.”

Now, Starr gets the chance to help impact graduating college students by giving them opportunities to start their career and make their mark on the world through his current role at Newark Electronics.

“If you have good communication skills, you will advance your career because you'll be able to be self-reflective, you'll be able to understand the environment you're in, you'll be able to adjust to your audience, you'll be able to recognize verbal and nonverbal cues of how things are going and what you can expect.”