Student: Kiera Huiel

Kiera Huiel is a senior majoring in communication with a concentration in public relations. She chose to attend East Carolina University because of the countless opportunities that are offered to the students.

“I knew that ECU would give me a solid foundation for my future career in public relations,” she said.

Huiel has moved around her entire life coming from a military-based family. Both of her parents served in the U.S. Army, her mother for eight years and father for 22 years. She was born in Georgia, lived in Germany for five years and moved to Fayetteville when she was in high school. Her family still lives in Fayetteville.

“I think those experiences helped me. That’s what makes me enjoy people and diversity,” she said. “I love hearing people’s stories.”

She knew that the public relations field was a career in which she would flourish because she loves social media, journalism and marketing.

“Freshman year, I came in and knew I wanted to get involved,” Huiel said.

During her first year, she was the public relations representative for the residence halls on central campus where she created flyers for all events. She also was a fashion writer for The East Carolinian and served three years as an ECU Ambassador.

Afterward, she got her first internship with the ECU Alumni Center, where she helped with marketing and communication through social media. Her second internship focused on marketing and social media for Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. She’s currently an ambassador for Amazon, where she promotes the benefits of Amazon Prime Student on campus.

Huiel stays active on campus. She has been a summer orientation assistant, Chancellor’s Student Leadership Academic Scholar and is involved with the official ECU Snapchat account.

For the past three years, she’s been a peer academic mentor at the Pirate Academic Success Center. She helps freshmen adjust to college life and provides guidance throughout their first semester.

“Not only do I help them, but they help me see things that I’ve never noticed before,” she said.

She always tells her mentees to get out and find an organization or niche during their first year.

She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and is its Ivy League reporter; she handles her chapter’s social media and flyers for event promotion.

Huiel aspires to be Oprah Winfrey one day. She is inspired by Winfrey’s background in journalism and how she has created a talk show and brand for herself.

After graduation in May, Huiel plans to move to a big city and work for a public relations firm or attend graduate school.

What advice do you have for other students?: Experience everything you can at ECU because these four years of college go by so fast and there is so much to do! Start spontaneous conversations with people, go to Fried Chicken Wednesdays, join that organization, and try something new because in the end we only regret the chances we did not take!

What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year?: That the French toast bagel with honey butter from Einstein Bros. Bagels is the best thing in the world!

Your words to live by: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalms 37:4

This Pirate uses social media and marketing to connect with people.

STATISTICS

College: College of Fine Arts and Communication

Major: Communication, concentration in public relations

Age: 22

Classification/Year: Senior

Hometown: Everywhere due to being a military child. My family is currently in Fayetteville.

Hobbies/interests: Working out, drinking coffee, traveling, bowling, reading, thrift shopping and browsing on Pinterest

Clubs and Organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Pirate Academic Success Center Mentor, Amazon Ambassador

FAVORITES

Favorite hangout: Either my bed with my laptop stand or Barnes and Noble

Favorite place on campus: Third floor of Joyner Library

Favorite place to eat: Anywhere that has southern cuisine (soul food)

Favorite class: Public Speaking

Professor who influenced you the most: Mr. Wiseman. He is my advisor ( for the past four years), my COAD professor freshmen year, and my public relations professor. He always inspires me to keep going after my dreams!

Favorite TV show: “Being Mary Jane”

Favorite band/musician: Any music from the ‘90s and jazz music

Favorite movie: “Save the Last Dance” or “A Walk to Remember”

Favorite website: Pinterest

MOTIVATIONS

Dream job: Talk show host like Oprah Winfrey or Ellen

The one thing you cannot live without: Jesus

Role model: My parents, Oprah Winfrey and Gabrielle Union – in that order.