By Katelyn Schrock
Staff Writer
Tom Missel
With all the journalists and broadcast reporters on the St. Bonaventure campus, it is no surprise interviews take place every day, whether it is in the corner of Café La Verna or the press room in the Reilly Center. Without Tom Missel, director of media relations and marketing, none of these interviews would be possible.
Missel, a graduate of SUNY Fredonia, has been working at the university for 11 years. He works with both internal and external media outlets to ensure everyone gets the interviews they need.
“I am the contact to anyone who has media questions or needs clarification about a press release,” Missel said. “If students need to talk to someone for a school assignment, I am able to set them up with the right person.”
The second part of his job includes marketing. He is also responsible for designing external publications including postcard blasts for prospective students and admission brochures.
Missel said his experience stems from working at the school paper at Fredonia. After graduation, the Olean Times Herald (OTH) hired Missel. Missel worked his way at the OTH from sports writer to news editor.
Missel came to Bonaventure in 2001 to work in public relations and has been here ever since. What he likes best is Bonaventure’s enjoyable atmosphere.
“The people I work with make it worthwhile,” Missel said. “If I didn’t work with the quality of people I do, then I would have probably left.
Last spring proved to be an exceptionally rewarding time for Missel, as he edited and designed the commemorative book “A Legacy Defined.” The book takes a look at the men and women’s basketball teams’ journey to the Atlantic-10 tournament and then onto the NCAA’s last year.
“The process (for the book) was extremely overwhelming, but a joy to work on,” Missel said. “The project included several people and the time frame for completion was about three and a half weeks.”
The book was set to be released for the commencement of the class of 2012. Due to the tight time frame, Missel had to rely on his colleagues to help with the heavy workload.
“I was working 14 hour days and realized that I couldn’t juggle both my regular work load and the book,” Missel said. “All of us in the office have a very similar skill set and have years of experience so we all have multiple skills which was very beneficial in the situation.”
The keepsake book has been one of the most satisfying things Missel said he has worked on at Bonaventure, and he said he hopes people will always treasure the memories within its pages.
“Ultimately I know that people will come to cherish it, maybe not now because the memories are still fresh, but five years from now definitely.
