When Jake Moran, KLN ’24, presented his portfolio at the Klein College of Media and Communication’s 2024 Senior Showcase, he knew it would be a great opportunity for making professional connections. But he didn’t expect it to lead directly to his first job. 

“I met my current boss, who is also a Klein alum, at the showcase,” said Moran, who now works as an associate account manager for Real Time Media in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. “He approached me and was curious about some of the web development and marketing work I had done.” 

The two struck up a conversation about sweepstakes and giveaways, Real Time Media’s specialty, and the encounter led to a job offer. As an associate account manager, Moran meets with clients about their needs and develops solutions based on Real Time Media’s services. He also manages the terms of their contracts. 

For Moran, the chance to show off his work in person helped him land a job. 

“It was really cool, because if I had just applied for the job I wouldn’t have been able to show him my past experience in that industry,” he said. “I don't think I would have been able to convey that as effectively as I was able to in person.” 

Stories like Moran’s are exactly why Kathy Mueller, chair of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, founded the Senior Showcase 10 years ago.  

Mueller joined Temple in 2010 after teaching in the graphic design program at the Moore College of Art and Design, where she earned her undergraduate degree. She also earned an MFA in graphic and interactive design from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture.  

In art school, it is common for graduating students to participate in a culminating gallery exhibition, where students display their finest creations from their college career. Mueller believed Klein’s talented advertising and public relations students could benefit from a similar event.  

“I thought about what it meant to me as a student, and later as a faculty member, to have that culminating event as you’re preparing to graduate,” said Mueller, who took over as chair in 2023. “I really wanted to create that experience for students, so they could have an a-ha moment and feel a real sense of pride while showing off their work.” 

She organized the first Senior Showcase in 2015 as a way for graduating students to pitch themselves and their work to recruiters, alumni and industry professionals. The event has since become a mainstay of Klein’s professional development programming, and its 10th edition, held on April 29, 2025, welcomed 106 graduating seniors and more than 100 industry professionals and Klein alumni. 

Moran was among the alumni who returned in April to network and reconnect with familiar faces, something Mueller says has grown increasingly common. 

“It’s my favorite night of the year,” she said. “It’s like a reunion with students who have gone on to build their careers. It is just so satisfying to hear about their successes, and to know the ranks that they have ascended to and the brands that they are working with.” 

Mueller ran into Wes Marshall, KLN ’23, at April’s showcase. Marshall pitched his copywriting skills at the 2023 event, helping him land his current job at the advertising agency Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C), which has an office in Philadelphia. 

“I saw someone from across the room. I could just tell he was an advertising guy, and I really wanted him to stop by my table,” Marshall said. “His name was Kevin Couch, and he came by toward the end of the event. We hit it off. He liked the work I was showing, and afterwards he put me in touch with the folks at AB&C.” 

Marshall joined AB&C as a full-time copywriter last summer. In his role, he drafts emails, digital ads, billboards and print materials for clients like the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Delaware Health and Social Services. Some days, he finds himself on video shoots. Other times, he’s concepting campaigns and pitching them to clients. 

“We do a lot of behavioral change campaigns, too, like trying to get people to stop smoking, or trying to reduce stigmas around opioid use disorder,” Marshall said. “It’s meaningful work that resonates with me.” 

Wes Marshall works as a copywriter for Aloysius Butler & Clark. (Photography by Ryan S. Brandenberg)

Nyla Monastero, KLN ’24, also returned for the April showcase. She first volunteered for the event during her junior year, where she quickly realized how valuable the experience could be for graduating seniors.  

“I was like, this is everybody’s dream before you graduate,” she said. “You have a bunch of recruiters walking around, and you really get to pitch yourself and your work.” 

At her showcase, she was approached by her former professor, Cheldin Rumer, who was impressed with Monastero’s portfolio. Monastero received an offer to intern for Rumer’s educational streaming platform, This Is It Network. That opportunity led to a job as an assistant public relations coordinator with Philly PR Girl, where Monastero arranged news coverage and organized events for her partner clients. 

“It was like a domino effect. You never know who is going to approach you, and who is interested in what you’re doing,” Monastero said. “But the Senior Showcase is your time to shine. It is important to be fully prepared and to put it all out there.” 

In addition to her roles with This Is It Network and Philly PR Girl, Monastero has also worked for New York Fashion Week. Most recently, Monastero joined the team of designer Monse, helping coordinate outfits for celebrities like Selena Gomez, Aimee Lee Wood and Charli XCX. 

“That was a huge deal for me. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes,” she said. “And even though the event flies by, it’s all worth it. It’s all about giving people that experience that they’re never going to forget.” 

Nyla Monastero has held roles with This Is It Network, Philly PR Girl and New York Fashion Week. (Photography by Ryan S. Brandenberg)

April’s Senior Showcase was extra special, as Mueller and the event organizers were presented with a certification from Mayor Cherelle Parker in celebration of the 10-year anniversary. 

For Mueller, the recognition acknowledges the hard work and preparation that goes into arranging the Senior Showcase each year. Also instrumental in organizing the 2025 Senior Showcase were students Dahlia Boone, Ella Colarossi, Grace Franklin,  Zach Hamilton, Lolade Kola-Adewuyi, and Kelsea Schaffer, along with faculty members Stacey Harpster,  Deborah Racano, and Lisa Simon. 

But she feels most rewarded when alumni like Moran, Marshall and Monastero come back and share their successes. 

“I think that is why teachers become teachers,” she said. “We take so much joy and satisfaction in seeing our students grow and learn and succeed.”