Jordan Gerard/ Winonan

Homecoming is a time for former students to return to campus, and this year 18 alumni returned to campus to speak to various classes about life after college.

The alumni relations office started bringing alumni back to campus to speak to students during homecoming in 2005, and in 2010, spring sessions were added, associate director of alumni relations Heather Kosik said.

Kosik said,“Alumni college speakers do a great job of sharing personal and professional experiences that have helped them be successful in their career and life. Many speakers also provide students with their contact information, and given the success of our speakers, this is an invaluable way for students to network with professionals in their field.”

Public relations major Aly Hagglund said she enjoyed alumna Shelli Lissick’s discussion in professor Tom Grier’s Principles of Public Relations class.

Lissick is a 1996 graduate, who earned her B.A. in Mass Communications: Public Relations with a minor in business administration.

Lissick said it feels like nothing has changed being back on campus

“I feel like a lot of time hasn’t passed, yet a lot of time has,” Lissick said.“It’s an honor to be able to share my experiences with students. I wish I had this experience when I was in school. I would have loved that.”

During her time here, Lissick said she switched her major five times before settling on public relations.

Lissick was the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)—now Public Relations Student Society of America—president, a Winonan reporter, worked in the public information office, worked for HOME 101 FM radio and interned for the Winona Council for Quality.

Lissick said her education here prepared her for a career in public relations, but it was also the internships and first jobs that really helped.

The class that really helped her was the capstone course, Campaigns, Lissick said.

“That was awesome,” Lissick said. “It really shows you what it’s like to work in an agency and with a client.”

After graduation, Lissick said Shandwick/Ceres, a large public relations agency, hired her. Here, she was able to work with a large variety of clients.

Soon tiring of life in the fast lane, Lissick said she made two more career moves and then became a business partner for Bellmont Partners public relations firm in Minneapolis.

Lissick said working in the real world is a great experience.

“Every day is different. It’s fast-paced and constantly changing,” she said. “It’s fun to work with what you’re interested in but also fun to work with variety.”

Lissick said she has learned a lot about her career since graduation, like working with clients, employees and coworkers, being curious about a story and then telling it well and building a support network.

“The best advice is to build and maintain relationships,” Lissick said. “People can influence you in some way or might be able to give you a job or know someone who can.”