by Hayley Keen

Working in sports was always in Jennifer Cingari Christie’s future. It was no surprise, therefore, that upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from URI, she quickly moved on to work at ESPN films.

For Christie, attending URI was the chance to have a new experience, at a school that was close, but far enough away. When she switched her major to PR, she found her passion for communications and public relations courses.

Jennifer currently works as the Communications Manager at ESPN Films. On a typical day, she can be at any point in the PR process, as she handles all PR for ESPN Films, ESPN Magazine, the ESPYS, 30-for-30 Podcast, and more.

In college Jennifer was a member of the Student Entertainment Committee, working on PR for the group. She also went on to start the Public Relations Society at URI.

“The more experience you get the better, through networking and through meeting other students,”Christie said. “That’s how you get the job, and that’s how I got my job.”

At URI, Christie’s  favorite course was COM351, Organizational Communication Skills, with Gail Alofsin.

“It was so refreshing to walk into a classroom and not just read a book,” Christie said. “We were introduced to people in different fields, people living and working amazing jobs. This class opened my eyes to this field and motivated me to push forward.”

Christie noted that the Harrington School prepared her for her career in sports.

“If you are not prepared for an opportunity that comes your way, you may not be able to take advantage of it,” Christie said. “If you don’t put yourself out there, the opportunity may never present itself.”