Raymond Simon Institute

Today marks the first day of final exams and we want to give a HUGE shoutout to our RSI intern, Terrence! He was been working behind the scenes updating our website and making social media posts! Good luck on your finals and have a great summer break!

Our annual Raymond Simon Institute Awards Breakfast was a success! More than 20 of Utica University's Communication and Media and Digital Media Marketing students were awarded cash awards and scholarships.

Kimberly Hill Ridley, New York State's Chief Disability Officer, was also honored as our 2026 Outstanding Alumna.

Here are photos from the April 11 ceremony. Photos by Alexandria Leland Photography.

We were honored to present Kimberly Hill Ridley with this year’s Raymond Simon Institute Outstanding Alumna Award at our annual awards breakfast on Saturday, April 11.

Kim, a 1994 Utica University Public Relations/Journalism graduate, currently serves as New York State’s first Chief Disability Officer, a role she was appointed to by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022. She works closely with the governor and executive staff to help shape policies and programs that impact people with disabilities across the state.

During her remarks, Kim reflected on her time at Utica University, where she learned to turn personal challenges into purpose, discovered the power of using her voice and education to make a difference, and met her husband, Michael Ridley, a 1995 alumnus.

Kim also visited campus on Friday, April 10, speaking to Mary Christopher’s Media Writing class, where she shared her career and personal experiences and stayed afterward to connect with students. Congratulations, Kim! We were thrilled to celebrate with you and spend time together over the weekend.

Photos by Alexandria Leland Photography.

More than 100 local high school students visited Utica University on Wednesday, Oct. 1 for High School Communication Career Day, sponsored by the Raymond Simon Institute for Public Relations and Journalism. Students were lucky to hear a fantastic message from keynote speaker Adrienne Smith Levatino, Director of Media Relations for Nascentia Health. They also participated in a variety of focus sessions, learning about marketing, public relations, journalism and broadcast journalism, sports journalism and communication and communication through visual art and theater.

RSI thanks all who were involved in this great event for local students!

Are you interested in being the voice behind the brand, the mic, the story or the stage? Then plan on attending Utica University's High School Communication Career Day on Wednesday Oct. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join us to learn all about the University's Communication and Media and Digital Media Marketing programs. To register: https://connect.utica.edu/register/?id=fbd2e825-4121-4281-aa1a-4b285b358189

It was exciting to honor 20 Utica University students at the annual Raymond Simon Institute Awards Brunch on April 26. Students received cash awards and scholarships recognizing their achievements in print, digital and broadcast journalism, sports communication, public relations, marketing and digital media.

RSI also recognized Distinguished Professor of Journalism David Chanatry, who retired at the end of the Fall 2024 semester after 21 years of teaching service to the Communication and Media program.

These annual scholarships and cash awards are made possible through generous donations from PR/J and Communication and Media alumni.

Attia Nasar, Director of Communications for Human Health IT at Merck, was chosen as the 2025 Raymond Simon Institute Outstanding Alumna. Attia leads enterprise-wide messaging strategies that support digital transformation, employee engagement, and innovation

Previously, Attia supported Merck’s vaccines division, where she led internal and external communications for the company’s pediatric vaccine portfolio, including high-profile product launches and FDA approvals. Her work has shaped corporate narratives and guided executive communications on a global scale.

Earlier in her career, Attia held multiple roles at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., where she advised ambassadors, built award-winning digital diplomacy programs, and led communications strategies in complex geopolitical environments—including the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and the South and Central Asia bureau.

Attia holds dual master’s degrees in Public Relations and International Relations from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Utica College. She was honored at RSI's annual awards breakfast on Saturday, April 26.

Utica University students and faculty recently learned how Susan B. Anthony and other suffrage movement leaders created one of history's most successful communication campaigns at a March 27 presentation titled "Crafting the Narrative: The Role of Public Relations in the Suffrage Movement."

The presentation, led by Regina Luttrell, Senior Associate Dean for Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and Arien Rozelle, Assistant Teaching Professor of Public Relations at Syracuse University, explored how Anthony and other leaders crafted compelling narratives, managed sophisticated message campaigns and pioneered modern public relations techniques even before public relations became a formal profession. Suffragists employed every media tool, from media relations outreach to media monitoring and more, to transform their vision into reality.

Luttrell is a 1998 Utica graduate and was named Raymond Simon Institute's 2023 Outstanding Alumna. The event was organized by the Communication and Media Department.

The 2025 High School Communication Career Day was a huge success and welcomed 130 students from around the Mohawk Valley to the Utica University campus.

The event, sponsored by the Raymond Simon Institute, gave students the chance to participate in interactive sessions focusing on social media, digital marketing, journalism, sports communication and public relations.

Sessions were led by current faculty and students, alumni and local industry professionals.

Keynote speaker Ryan Miller, director of ThINCubator, spoke on the importance of storytelling for business development.

📸 The Tangerine and Utica University