Alec Sydlow
March 12, 2019
Alec and Nikki Sydlow (2017).
In 2016, Alec married his best friend and fellow Truman COMM grad, Nikki. They spent 2.5 years living in Denver together after graduating, devoted as much time in the mountains as possible while still working full time. They still get back to the mountains when they can, even though they are now back living in St. Louis. They own a home in South City where they live with their cat. Outside of work, Alec writes and records music and enjoys just about any outdoor activity. On weekends, it’s a good bet to find Alec and Nikki hiking in Castlewood State Park.
What year did you graduate and what was your concentration?
I graduated in 2013 with a concentration in Public Communication with minors in Business Administration and Spanish for the Professions.
Alec and SAB friends (2010).
What extra-/co-curricular activities did you do?
I was on the Student Activities Board (SAB) for all four years and Funds Allotment Council (FAC) for two. I served as Special Events Chair and Vice President of SAB.
Did you go to grad school? If so, where? Was it immediately after you left Truman or did you wait? Why?
I have just started my MBA program at Webster University. I always had graduate school on my radar, but I was excited to get out into the working world after graduating. With five years of work experience, I know that there is a lot more to learn.
What was your first job after graduation?
My first job after graduating was with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. I served as the Audience Services Manager. This role had me manage the volunteer staff and front of house staff for the outdoor festival in Forest Park each summer. I did not take a single Theatre class while at Truman — this role stemmed from an internship that I had my junior year. Although I never intended to go into theatre, I really liked working in the arts and ended up staying in the field for a couple years.
What work do you do/What are you doing now?
After graduating, I worked one summer for the Shakespeare Festival, and then moved to Denver, CO to work for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, one of the largest theater complexes in the country.
Alec hiking outside of Los Angeles, CA (2018).
I am now back in St. Louis working for a software company while pursuing my MBA. I’ve been involved with both a non-profit and for-profit tech company.
How has your Liberal Arts/COMM education helped you?
More than anything, a COMM degree reinforced my writing skills. Being a confident writer has opened up all kinds of doors. I have done everything from technical writing (software manuals, tutorials, etc.) to social media posts. Every company needs strong writers and communicators, no matter their outward facing function. If you can take big ideas and synthesize them into a digestible message, you’re a big asset.
Alec (1st row, left) and the Europe in Transition class in Rome (2010).
Which class did you dislike at the time you took it, but now you’re grateful you took it?
Methods! A class centered on research can feel like a drag, but it does give some important perspective on how to look at a problem and break it down. And, the final paper was one of the longest group projects I had while at Truman. Managing a long-term team project definitely has practical application in the corporate world.
What was your greatest accomplishment at Truman?
Academically, I was proud to pick up minors in XX and XX. They really expanded my learning at Truman.
Outside of classes, I was part of the small team that brought Tony LaRussa to campus the year following the Cardinals World Series win in 2011. It was so cool to see excited students in their Cards gear lined up across the quad to get into the auditorium.
Why is Truman a good place for a student to study?
There really is a lot of opportunity to expand your thinking. Across all of my programs and classes, there is a focus on critical thinking and problem solving. The liberal arts route lets you explore a lot of different areas, even if that is not your focus. One of my favorite classes at Truman was on Game Theory, something I knew literally nothing about going in, but gave me a completely different way of looking at expected outcomes.
Alec (right) and friends at graduation (2013).
What would you say a COMM student should absolutely do while at Truman?
Get involved in another club, especially one that had an impact on the day to day life at Truman. On SAB, I had a direct impact on what happened on campus, and it was a great way to put a lot of my COMM skills to work. We had to design publicity, create marketing plans, determine how to connect with the students, and more — all work that tied in really well with Public Communication. I also got to work closely with student media organizations like The Index when promoting events, so it had a close relationship with COMM work.
What advice would you give someone who wants to go into the same line of work as you?
In the non-profit world, be prepared to wear numerous hats and be flexible. Sometimes, your biggest role comes from the last line of your job description: “and other responsibilities as needed.”
Alec loving on nature in Muir Woods (2018).
What do you miss most about campus/Kirksville?
Simply put, the campus. Truman is beautiful, even compared to some of the big name universities out there. I miss walking to everything, both on campus and around town. Kirksville really is a great place to go to school and is 100% what you make it. If you want to have fun there, you will! The town is a blast, and Thousand Hills State Park is a gem.
What tag line would you create for the COMM department at Truman?
“Communication: Don’t let anyone tell you it’s easy.”
If you could come back to Truman and teach a class for a semester, what would be its title and what would it be about?
I would teach a course on business communication and how various types of organizations communicate differently. For example, I have worked for a theater with a staff of over 500, and one with a staff of 5. There are vastly differently communication strategies needed to be successful in these environments. If you can communicate confidently in all types of organizations, you’ll stand out.
What did we not ask that you think is important for people to know?
Alec and Nikki Sydlow (2018).
I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school. Five years out of school, I still really don’t know what I want to do, and that’s OK. There are some people around you that have a perfectly defined track for their life/career after school. Don’t worry if you’re not one of those people. There are tons of people out in the world still figuring it out, and just as many of those people who knew exactly what they wanted to do in college are now doing something completely different. COMM gives you a great background to do all sorts of things — it’s fun to explore.