The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and Princeton Strategic Communications (PSC) have announced a new, year-round collaboration designed to significantly expand career development, internship opportunities, and real-world learning for students in TCNJ’s School of the Arts and Communication.
The formal agreement, signed during an on-campus ceremony on December 1, 2025, establishes a robust partnership that will directly benefit students pursuing careers in communications, public relations, design, marketing, and related fields.
PSC’s commitment includes providing TCNJ students with:
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Paid, Hybrid Internships: Access to professional, hands-on experience within the agency environment.
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Guaranteed Interviews: Qualified student applicants will be guaranteed interviews for opportunities at PSC.
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Direct Engagement: Pathways for mentorship, guest lectures, mock press conferences, and office visits.
A key focus of the partnership is supporting Creative State, TCNJ’s new student-led public relations and design agency. Creative State, launched with the support of alumni Andy ’83 and Maria ’83 Polansky, unites student talent from various disciplines—including communication studies, journalism, digital filmmaking, and design—to work on client deliverables under faculty mentorship.
“Creative State is designed to give our students real-world experience and develop industry connections,” said Dr. Pamela Barnett Halladay, Dean of TCNJ’s School of the Arts and Communication. “This new partnership with PSC expands that mission in exciting ways—opening doors to professional opportunities that will help our students thrive in their careers after graduation.”
For PSC, the collaboration underscores its ongoing commitment to strengthening New Jersey’s workforce pipeline and supporting the next generation of professionals.
Ethan Andersen, Managing Partner at PSC, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We’re proud to partner with TCNJ to support their budding designers, communicators, and creative professionals. We’re excited to welcome their students into our agency environment to learn from our team and contribute their own innovative ideas.”
The partnership holds a special significance for Emaleigh Kaithern, a Communications Director at PSC and a 2015 graduate of TCNJ. She noted that the support and mentorship she received at TCNJ “laid the foundation” for her career and is honored to help provide similar foundational experiences to current students.
The first internship and student engagement opportunities through the new partnership are anticipated to open in early 2026. TCNJ students interested in potential opportunities are advised to check PSC’s company profile on Handshake.
