The event took place as part of an academic exchange with the Ferré Rangel School of Communication.
(Photos by Edwin Romero Castro | Student of Photography)
By Institutional Communications
Students from the Diederich College of Communications at Marquette University visited Universidad del Sagrado Corazón as part of an academic exchange with the Ferré Rangel School of Communication, with the goal of exchanging ideas and knowledge about the field of communications.
The activity included a panel discussion with Isabel Rullán, co-founder and executive director of ComPRometidos; Yalixa Rivera, general director of GFR Media; and Guillermo Paz, president of Populicom. In addition, both visiting students and Sagrado students participated in presentations led by Miguel Rojas, marketing manager at T-Mobile Puerto Rico, and Juan Carlos Ampie, professor of Multimedia Journalism at Marquette University.
“Today we are brought together by a fundamental purpose: to discuss our discipline—strategic communication—to exchange ideas and experiences about the practice of the profession, the evolution of the communications industry, and the cultural contexts that shape and guide us,” said Professor Gina Hernández, academic leader of Strategic Communication and assistant professor at ECFR.
A Dialogue on the Challenges Facing Communications Students
The event began with a conversation among Rullán, Rivera, and Paz, during which they shared their experiences in the sector and addressed challenges and concerns raised by students as they begin their careers, such as finding professional opportunities and building connections in the industry.
The speakers emphasized the importance of participating in internships to gain exposure to diverse experiences within their field of interest. Paz also highlighted the need for emotional resilience when seeking opportunities in a competitive field like communications.
“Be leaders in your search, be consistent, follow up, and be ready to respond when those opportunities arise,” Paz urged the students, also advising them to change their perspectives on failure. “As long as you are learning, you are not failing,” he concluded.
A Look at Achievements and Challenges in Communications Today
During the second part of the academic exchange, students gained insight into the local marketing landscape with Rojas, who leads marketing strategy at T-Mobile Puerto Rico. His participation sparked a conversation about brand positioning and overall strategies at the local level, including a case study on initiatives the brand developed during Bad Bunny’s historic residency.
“I have the privilege of working in a place that believes in what we do and trusts us to develop local initiatives with a team that works hard to create things that are relevant to Puerto Ricans,” said Rojas.
Meanwhile, Professor Ampie addressed one of the most resonant topics of the moment: the search for human-centered content amid the rise of artificial intelligence. During his presentation, he analyzed with students the impact of this technology across various areas, such as music, video, content creation, and even independent journalism, where professionals face risks like voice and image cloning for unauthorized purposes. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of authenticity in communication to build trust with audiences.
At the end of the event, Marquette University students had an opportunity to socialize with Sagrado students before continuing to explore the campus. Through this initiative, Sagrado continues to strengthen partnerships with institutions both within and outside Puerto Rico in order to offer unique academic experiences to both the local and international community.