The School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) announced today that Aaron Kwittken, B.A. ’92, established the Kwittken Fund for Strategic Communication Internships and Mentoring with a $50,000.00 gift.
The fund will support the SMPA Career Access Network (SMPA CAN), providing support for students who take unpaid or underpaid internships in the field of strategic communication and media. Up to three “Kwittken Internship Awards” will be given annually for the next five years. The Kwittken Fund will also provide for formal mentoring support for students to connect with alumni professionals and others working in the field.
“The University and SMPA in particular knows that students succeed best when they can apply what they learned in the classroom to real world situations. Its my hope that the Kwittken Fund provides career-enriching opportunities for SMPA students interested in taking their studies to the next level, especially in the fast changing and fast paced, digitally-driven media and related industries,” said Kwittken.
“As an alumnus and a CEO of one of the fastest growing, most modern communications agencies in the world, Aaron Kwittken understands how vital the internship experience is these days to getting that first step on the career ladder,” said Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs. “His agency’s generous gift will allow many of our students to accept internships and gain experience that they otherwise might have declined because of financial strain.”
About Kwittken
Kwittken is one of the fastest growing, modern communications agencies in the world, with offices in New York, London and Toronto. We provide our clients with fresh thinking that creates value through thoughtful and creative communications, and brand engagement. Our 1/1 (one of one) agency model synthesizes "design thinking" with the most impactful elements of public relations, influencer engagement and social/content marketing expertise. A multi-specialist agency, Kwittken works with clients such as Amway, Deloitte, Pantone, P&G, Hisense, American Express, HomeAway, Wyndam, Windstream, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Virtus Asset Management and Amadeus.
Kwittken has been a part of the MDC Partners network since 2010.