Taylor Byrne ’25 is forging her own career path. An aspiring public relations practitioner, she majors in public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. But it’s her minor in anthropology, courtesy of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, that gives the Virgina native a competitive edge.
“I use my communication skills and anthropological knowledge to make culturally informed decisions about public relations,” says the Shaw Center leadership intern, who wants to work in the nonprofit or corporate social responsibility sector or the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility space.
Whereas the field of public relations focuses on communications management (e.g. strategies, directives and information flow), anthropology looks at human existence holistically, incorporating elements of archeology, biology, linguistics and social evolution. “Anthropology helps me understand what appeals to human nature through marketing tactics,” she adds.
The learning cadence for both disciplines is different. Public relations courses often include semester-long campaigns or research projects. Anthropology coursework, however, is a “constant flow of knowledge” culminating in a paper or presentation.
“The pairing reinforces how I learn and what I need to develop,” says the former vice president of communications for the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. “A healthy work-life balance is probably the most important skill I have.”
This article was originally published December 17, 2025 by SU Stories here.
