Student: Ilaria Noonan

When Ilaria Noonan began her college search four years ago, it was an unexpected invitation to join East Carolina University’s Honors College that changed her path. Now, the graduating senior is preparing to leave ECU with not just a diploma, but also a wealth of experience that has shaped her future career path in ways she never expected.

Ilaria Noonan works at the Honors College orientation in 2023. (Photo by Kristen Martin)

“I applied to 10 different schools and ECU was not on my radar until I got an invitation to apply to the Honors College. When I saw the benefits of the Honors College, I was like, ‘Wow this is interesting.’ So that day I toured ECU with my family. We just walked around, and I made up my mind right there that I would go to ECU,” Noonan said.

“Another reason I chose ECU was I wanted a small English program. I didn’t want a classroom filled with hundreds of people. I wanted it to be small and intimate, and ECU was able to provide that for me,” she said.

While Noonan initially planned to pursue corporate law, an Honors College connection changed her path. “I initially wanted to be a lawyer and practice corporate law. Through Honors 2000, I met with a lawyer and everything that they said deterred me from wanting to be a lawyer. Just everything about it made me think, ‘I’m not doing that.’ That’s when I started looking more into English and public relations,” Noonan said.

During her time at ECU, Noonan has been exposed to many facets of the communication and public relations industry. “All of my internships have had a big impact on me. My freshmen year internship was the catalyst. I got to work with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization as a communications intern and was exposed to a completely different side of communication,” she said.

Along with her impressive internships, Noonan has been able to work firsthand with the Honors College admissions team including Margaret Turner, the director of Honors College admissions. “Working with admissions and Margaret Turner, she has put me in every admissions position and scenario possible. You can’t really go to college and get a degree in college admissions so getting the exposure to what higher education and admissions involves has been helpful,” Noonan said.

The Honors College remains central to Noonan’s ECU experience. “I really enjoy going to Honors events. When I make the joke that it’s my entire life, I mean it in a loving way. I love going to the events and I really enjoy getting to help plan them with the team. Being super involved in the Honors College has always been a big part of who I am,” she said.

Beyond the Honors College, Noonan has discovered a passion for research. “I’m currently researching crisis organizational communication with Dr. Drew Ashby-King. My research has made a big impact on me and what I want to do once I graduate,” she said.

Looking toward spring graduation, Noonan has ambitious plans. “I’m currently applying to graduate school for strategic communication. Ultimately, I want to turn that into a Ph.D. I want to focus on crisis communication and some elements of higher education. Once I get my Ph.D., I want to work at a university as a professor in communication, doing communication research, or handling admissions.”

Despite her busy schedule, Noonan enjoys spending her free time exploring Greenville. “I love to hang out with my roommates. We like to explore coffee shops and restaurants. I’ve really grown to love Greenville,” she said.

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STATISTICS

Name: Ilaria Noonan
Colleges: College of Fine Arts and Communication
Major: English and communication with a concentration in public relations
Age: 21
Classification/Year: Senior
Hometown: Wake Forest
Clubs and Organizations: Honors College Student Council, Honors College communications and marketing student worker

FAVORITES

Favorite hangout: Backstage Coffee and Coastal Fog
Favorite place on campus: Joyner Library or Mamie Jenkins
Favorite class: Shakespeare: tragedies and Shakespeare: comedies
Professor who influenced you the most: Dr. Drew Ashby-King, Dr. John Collins and Dr. David Wilson-Okamura
Favorite app: Instagram

MOTIVATIONS

Dream job: Director of admissions at a university or a communications professor
Role model: My parents, who show me day in and out what it looks like to work hard and fill a home with love. My professional role model is Kristen Martin, who has allowed me to experience every aspect of communication throughout my time working for the Honors College!
What advice do you have for other students? Apply for everything, experience everything! You will never regret trying something out. College is the perfect time to put yourself out there because everyone is learning who they are and what they want. Let this be some of the best years of your life!