Daniella French ’23

Hometown: Miami, Florida
Major: Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (WHIT) and Public Relations (NEW)

Daniella French ’23 (WHIT/NEW) found her second home over 1,500 miles away from her native Miami. “Syracuse University was far from home, but I fell in love with how I felt here during my campus visit. I felt comfortable. I felt at home,” she says.

French always knew she wanted to study communications, but her parents suggested also looking into business. When she found out that the Whitman School and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications had a dual program, she was sold.

It did not take long for French to find her home on campus, as she started joining clubs and other organizations. She has held leadership roles as a peer mentor for the Whitman Leadership Living Learning Community and is the vice president of professional development for the Newhouse chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. 

Another key learning experience for French was her most recent internship as a public relations intern with Beautology Lab, a small skin care company. French says, “It’s been a hands-on experience and has opened my eyes to what it’s like running a small business.”

As the company’s only public relations practitioner, she held a seat at the table with leadership. She says, “Because I worked with a team of five employees, I sat in on meetings with the CEO/founder. I was able to see how she handled situations that arose, maintained relationships, and dealt with many other aspects of the business.”

French’s internship experience fits perfectly into her professional goal of one day owning her own makeup line. As she continues her dual program in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and publicrelations, she is learning the necessary steps to launch a business. 

“After being at Syracuse for two years, I can say that I love how the School has allowed me to grow while still supporting me every step of the way,” says French. “The number one thing for me is feeling a sense of belonging. I was not a number. Faculty know me by name, and I feel welcomed into the community.”