If anyone knows Purdue University Northwest inside and out, it’s Katie Stompor. It’s her place of work and her place of study- and every day she sets off to learn something new and exciting on campus.
Stompor is the Interim Director of Strategic Communications and Public Relations in the Office of Institutional Advancement, Marketing & Communications at Purdue University Northwest. She is also a graduate student in communications, where she is exercising what she learns every day to promote the campus she is also earning her degree from.
“The great thing about working at a university is you are surrounded by people working hard to make great things happen,” Stompor said. “I would say my favorite part of my job is talking to a variety of people, hearing their stories, and learning about the projects they are working on. It’s truly inspiring”
Her arena is the ever-evolving world of social media and communications, from writing press releases to managing the university’s six platforms: Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. However, among the myriad of platforms, they all share a common purpose.
“This is a big university,” Stompor said. “The goal is to get as much great stuff going on as possible and sharing it with as many people as possible… Our job is to tell the Purdue University Northwest story.”
Stompor works on a team of more than ten communications professionals who have quite a large institution to cover.
“It’s not a huge department, for all the things we want to do,” Stompor said. “But everyone takes the bull by its horns, and we are efficient.”
Stompor graduated from the Illinois Institute of Art in 2005 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media Arts. As a graduate student at Purdue University Northwest, she is working toward her master’s in communication and plans to graduate in spring 2019.
After working at a multimedia company in Chicago for five years, Stompor felt compelled to go back to school to pursue her graduate degree in communication.
“I was very fortunate to be surrounded by a group of really experienced team members and friends,” she said. “They taught me so much about the ins-and-outs of video production, project management, and business management. I have since held positions in designing, multimedia, and project management over the years that have allowed me to learn and grow. All of these experiences helped me to decide to go back to school and pursue my graduate degree in communication.”
Stompor enjoys the footwork in her field, at times acting as a reporter on campus and getting the scoop on interesting projects brewing up among the departments, and getting some “Q & A” time with Purdue University Northwest’s accomplished faculty and students.
“Every day is different,” Stompor said. “I really love to learn and, without a doubt, every day in this position I learn something new. My day usually includes quite a few emails and phone calls, but I frequently get to attend events on campus, and interview students and faculty.”
Stompor was born and raised in Crown Point, Indiana and continues to live there with her husband, Kevin, and dog, Barney. Some of Stompor’s hobbies include fitness, making the Crown Point Square the perfect hub for running, especially with all of the marathons the city hosts throughout the year.
“I like living in Northwest Indiana,” she said. “I have never lived anyplace else, but I cannot imagine leaving any time soon. This area allows us to have convenient access to Chicago and all the amenities a big city offers, and still be able to have a home in a more rural setting. I would also say that the proximity to our family makes staying in Northwest Indiana an easy decision.”
Stompor also enjoys Downtown Crown Point for all of its unique and interesting shops.
“I like to shop on the square in downtown Crown Point whenever I have extra time,” Stompor said. “I’m a big supporter of shopping at small businesses and the quaint shops and cafes there are great.”
All in all, Stompor only sees her field of work growing, and her love of learning has surely helped her keep ahead of the game.
“Once you figure it out, something new is introduced, or other platforms fall by the wayside,” Stompor said. “We have a lot of different demographics- students may use Snapchat, while faculty may use LinkedIn, for example. It’s fascinating, but frankly it’s only going to get bigger in the future, if you think about where we were at five years ago, and five years before that. There’s always a new way to communicate and connect.”