After arriving to Quinnipiac as a transfer student her junior year, Vilas Boas got to work and said found her passion for public relations.

“Finding this passion has changed me immensely as a person and turned me from a wide-eyed freshman into a driven and passionate individual who is prepared to enter the workforce,” said Vilas Boas. 

As Vilas Boas reflects on her plans following graduation, she credits a lot of success to her professors who have guided her along the way.

“My professors have been the backbone of all my successes in school and outside of school,” she said.

She recalls sitting on a Zoom call with Brian Koonz, a part-time professor in the School of Communications, discussing journalism markets and exploring job opportunities close to home so she wouldn’t feel overwhelmed or homesick.

She also met several times with Ben Bogardus, professor and chair of journalism, seeking clarity on the competitive nature of the industry and building a resume reel.

Vilas Boas said their mentorship not only shaped her skills but also strengthened her confidence as a young journalist.

“A lot of my time at Quinnipiac was defined by dedication and perseverance, and I think that the root of that drive was the ambitious environment that surrounded me here at the university,” she said.