Alumni Hayden Huffman is the marketing coordinator at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, North Carolina.
Huffman graduated in May of 2023 with a degree in communication with a public relations concentration and a minor in Sociology.
Currently, his position at Frye revolves around a two-person team that creates content for the hospital and physician practices in the area. This content includes social media posts, photography and commercials.
“My previous manager just left to pursue another career, meaning I am the only local marketing/PR professional for every local aspect the hospital or practices need until her position is filled,” said Huffman. “The only support I have is from Growth and Outreach and our corporate offices, Lifepoint Health. Needless to say, I will definitely be putting this interim period on my resume!”
While at Western, Huffman was involved in PRSSA and served as the organization’s president. Additionally, he was the PR executive for Sociology and a performance team member in the Cataracts Comedy Club.
Huffman’s most enjoyable time at Western was going to class.
“It was never about getting the correct information or passing the next test, although I always did, it was about seeing my friends and peers every day,” said Huffman. “I’ve made lifelong friends with professors and students, and I couldn’t be happier with how I went through it all. Not only that, but my network currently is huge because of how I went about it.”
Huffman advised students to get out of their comfort zone and push their own limits. And the best way to become a professional is to be yourself. You should not be someone different when you are making an impact, set yourself apart.
“Always keep learning. Once my PR mandatory classes were done, I went and took broadcasting classes,” said Huffman. “I learned how to edit photography, video and audio. All that on top of a PR degree put me leagues above my competition. Don’t take your professors and the things available to you now for granted. On my average day, I wish I had office hours to get some help or guidance. Now, I have to learn the hard way for better or worse.”
Huffman’s biggest career goal is to become greater.
“There is a beauty in the unknown. No matter where I am at, no matter what is going on, the only way to become greater is to take every challenge as an opportunity,” said Huffman. “I do not know what I want or where I want to be, but I know that I love what I do and will keep doing that wherever it takes me. Call it naive, but that’s the mindset.”