Brooke (Perry) Nielsen
October 1, 2019
Brooke Nielsen (2019)
Brooke is a marketing professional living and working in the Kansas City area. She currently serves as AVP/Marketing Manager at UMB Bank. In this role she leads and supports strategic marketing initiatives for Commercial Banking in the St. Louis, Greater Missouri, Omaha, Kansas, Colorado and Arizona markets. In her free time, she likes to cook, read, and spend time with her husband and two dogs.
What year did you graduate and what was your concentration?
I graduated in 2012 and my concentration was Public Communication.
What extra-/co-curricular activities did you do?
I was a member of Alpha Sigma Gamma service sorority.
Brooke (2nd fr left) and her ΑΣΓ sisters (2011).
What was your first job after graduation?
My first job was a Marketing Coordinator for Liberty Hospital Foundation.
What work do you do/What are you doing now?
Now I am an AVP/Marketing Manager for UMB Bank. I support marketing efforts for our Commercial line of business across the UMB footprint.
How has your Liberal Arts/COMM education helped you?
My education at Truman has helped me to look at problems from all angles and to work well with a team. This skill has been useful in all jobs I’ve held.
What was your greatest accomplishment at Truman?
Learning to succeed on my own and finding my passion.
Brooke, and a couple of furry friends, while traveling abroad (2017).
Which class did you dislike at the time you took it, but now you’re grateful you took it?
I have to say Communication Theory. Now I hear references to specific authors or topics covered in that class all the time.
Why is Truman a good place for a student to study?
Truman is a great place to study because everyone there truly wants to learn and be the best they can be. You also have extremely supportive professors and fellow students.
What would you say a COMM student should absolutely do while at Truman?
Get more involved! I regret not being more involved in the COMM Department during my time at Truman. There are so many resources to take advantage of. (Editor’s note: Like these, for example)
What advice would you give someone who wants to go into the same line of work as you?
ABN! Always be networking! I have found all four of my jobs post-graduation through people I know.
Brooke (L) “netowrking” with an ΑΣΓ sister during her Truman days (2011).
What do you miss most about campus/Kirksville?
I miss being so close to friends and the positive and learning-centric environment.
What tag line would you create for the COMM department at Truman?
“COMM at Truman – COMMitted to your success!” (Editor’s note: Not bad!)
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 come back and teach a marketing strategy class because it’s an area I didn’t have much experience in and have really learned and developed skills on the job.
What did we not ask that you think is important for people to know?
I would just reiterate how great the students, professors and everyone at Truman really is. Everyone involved in your education cares about you succeeding.
Brooke and her husband in the historic Allen Field House (Rock! Chalk!) (2018).
If you would like to learn more of Brooke’s story, you can follow her on LinkedIn.