Name: Alyssa Evans
Major: Communication Studies 
Graduation: 2016 
Hometown: Glen Ellyn, Illinois 
Current City: Nashville, Tennessee  

What’s not to like when you’re trapped in a car dragging a U-Haul with your dad on the way to your first day of college? For starters, you may feel like you’ve outgrown the “daddy-daughter drop off” days of middle school – that is until you realize you’re on your own for the next four years. It’s up to you to make them count. Alyssa Evans ’16 graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in communication studies. She went into college not having a clue what she wanted to do, but today she is confident that she made the right choice. “I immediately had to put myself out there and jump out of my comfort zone,” she said. “That’s something my dad taught me how to do.”  

Evans didn’t see herself working at her current job when she first imagined her career path. Originally, she thought she would work in marketing or public relations; however, she now has a job in talent acquisition for prospective nurses and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I absolutely love working with people and helping them decide the next step in their professional life,” she said. “As a recruiter for nurses, I use the interpersonal skills I learned in the communication studies major to build relationships with the job seekers. Using effective communication is part of my routine.”  

Evans appreciates the Bob Schieffer College of Communication for giving her the skills necessary to be a leader in her community. She offers some great advice for prospective students who may not know their end game yet. “If you are a person even slightly interested in building relationships with people inside or outside the workplace, communication studies may be the route for you,” she said.  

Evans encourages students to try something new when first starting college. Time flies and before you know it, graduation hits. Since her graduation, Evans moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to launch her career as a talent acquisitionist. She prepared for her role by taking internships in the summer and fall semester before graduating. “Those internships taught me how to communicate and operate as a young professional in a corporate setting,” she said. “It helped me realize what skills I had and what field I ultimately wanted to pursue.”  

If there is one word to describe how Evans has changed over the years, she would actually give two. “I would say I’m more self-sufficient and responsible, but I still love it when my mom cooks for me every now and then,” she said.  

From that first day of college to finding her passion for helping others, Evans looks forward to what the future holds. Maybe she’ll go to graduate school or just come visit her favorite spot in Fort Worth – The Stockyards. However, one thing is for sure, “you can always come back home,” said Evans.   

Click here for more information on the Communication Studies department.