Alumna Draws on Communication, Collaboration Skills in Transit Work

When UNC Charlotte alumna Sayra Brynn embarked on a career in public relations, she never anticipated working alongside construction sites, nor did she envision how much she would enjoy the work.

Brynn serves as the public and community relations specialist for the Charlotte Area Transit System, and her work is dedicated to the LYNX Blue Line Extension.

“Being involved in such a large project is amazing, and I enjoy being a key player when it comes to communicating with the community, businesses, and the media,” Brynn said.

“It’s an exciting job that is made up of many different components,” she said. “Developing key internal and external partnerships is part of the process of any successful communications and public relations campaign, and I enjoy doing it. I collaborate in managing and developing strategic media and community relations, and produce internal and external communications materials in both English and Spanish. I also facilitate at community meetings and am responsible for the social media presence of the project.”

The $1.16 billion project is a 9.3 mile extension of the LYNX Blue Line. The line is projected to begin operation in 2017, offering continuous travel from UNC Charlotte’s main campus to UNC Charlotte Center City in Uptown. The project also will add bike lanes and improve sidewalks and infrastructure along North Tryon Street.

“UNC Charlotte is growing fast and will benefit from the project,” Brynn said. “When I worked at the Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte, we had students who wanted to go see international speakers at Center City, but couldn’t due to lack of transportation. This will be great for the many students interested in attending events at the university’s Center City campus. It also will be great to see how the University area is going to benefit from the light rail, and the transit oriented development it will bring to North Charlotte.”

Brynn, a Colombian native, came to the United States in 1998 in a student exchange program. She has watched Charlotte and UNC Charlotte grow, since she moved to the Queen City from Washington D.C. in 2001. After moving to Charlotte and obtaining a job with Bank of America in 2003, she returned to school at UNC Charlotte to embark on her career in public relations.

“Although consumer banking and real estate was a non-related career for me, it was a beneficial experience,” Brynn said. “I was able to build professional relationships with some Hispanic media, and I gained insight into finances and how businesses ran.”

While attending UNC Charlotte, Brynn received the Joe S. Epley Undergraduate Certificate in International Public Relations, awarded to exceptional communication studies students with a focus on international public relations. She graduated magna cum laude in 2008, with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and international public relations.

“I believe having an international mindset gives your career a boost and learning a second or multiple languages gives you an advantage in your internship/job searching,” she said.

Brynn attributes her success partially to the considerable experience she gained through internships. Through her career, she has interned in five public relations positions with various agencies and organizations.

“I interned with the Office of International Programs for about a year, performing an analysis of the website, writing news articles, and creating a strategic public relations plan to promote the organization,” Brynn said. “I was later in charge of communications and media relations for the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, as well as assisting in the organization of international initiatives for the OIP.”

Brynn Counsels Students to Reach Out for Feedback, Experiences

Brynn advises students to seek jobs and internships as soon as they can, to form a solid and invaluable background. She also encourages them to reach out for constructive criticism, to hold fast to ethical practices and to persist.

“Sometimes you get out of school and you think you need to have a certain job,” she said. “When you dedicate yourself to one job, you don’t open yourself up to other things. Did I ever think I would be involved in construction? No. But I absolutely enjoy what I do.”

She also recommends that students stay open to experiences that may not be exact fits for their ultimate goals, as long as they can learn from them.

“My first ‘real’ job was at a non-profit organization,” Brynn said. “You get to wear many hats and it’s not clear-cut like in a corporate job. Jobs and internships build your skill set and working experience, which is valuable. The more experience, the more of an edge you have when it comes time to get a job after graduating.”

Brynn recalls taking classes with Alan Freitag, a communication studies professor, and sitting in the student audience of alumni panels he organizes so that his students can learn from and connect with graduates in the communications fields.

“Our graduates from public relations are in very significant positions all over the United States,” Freitag said. “Sayra has been on these panels, and she’s a great example of how our public relations programs stack up favorably with any program around the world.”

As a student, Brynn wondered if Freitag ever would invite her to join the panels to share her story. “Dr. Freitag was a great mentor and encouraged me to pursue what I wanted to do,” Brynn said. “The alumni also gave me invaluable advice. School teaches you the basics, but I have learned that there are things you can’t teach in school that only come from real-world experiences.”

Words: Tyler Harris, Student Communications Assistant
Images: Lynn Roberson, College Communications Director