Alumnus offers career advice to CU-Mansfield students

Stu Weiss, a 1980 Mansfield graduate, returned to his alma mater in April to visit with Commonwealth University-Mansfield students and other members of the campus community.

Weiss earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations and broadcasting from Mansfield and was involved with WNTE-FM, the university’s radio station, while at Mansfield. He is the founder, owner and chief creative officer of Studio City, the largest and most honored media marketing agency in the country.

The visit began with a meet and greet with Dr. Bashar Hanna, CU president; Marty Wygmans, vice president of student success and campus life and campus administrator; Jim Brown, dean of arts, social sciences and humanities; Kate Billmeyer, senior director of philanthropy; Dave Donlick, director of alumni and professional engagement; Dan Knorr, executive director of economic development and external affairs; and Mark Polonia, video production for strategic communications and marketing.

Weiss then had lunch with Andrew Longcore, media and journalism faculty member, and media and journalism students, where he shared his experiences at Mansfield and the path that took him from there to his current successful career. Students engaged in a two-hour question and answer session with him as he offered advice on what he and employers in his field look for when hiring.

Weiss began his media career at the age of 17, working at WBRX radio in Berwick. He worked as a DJ in Scranton from 1976-1982, followed by two years as a writer and producer at WBNG 12 in Binghamton, New York, and weekend weather anchor. In 1984, he was hired by FOX in Los Angeles as their local news promotion manager. Two years later he was hired by NBC and became vice president for creative services, in charge of marketing the network’s movies, mini-series, specials, Saturday morning and late-night programming. Weiss also is a seven-time Emmy Award winning producer.

Weiss also won the Outstanding Young Alumni Award at Mansfield in 1991, served as commencement speaker in May 2010 and was awarded the Presidential Coin for Excellence in 2015.