Connor Clouthier: Taking the Non-Traditional Path to a Public Relations Degree

An adult student's journey from Belmont University's PR program to the automotive industry

Connor Clouthier (public relations management, ‘24) didn't follow the typical path to earning his degree in public relations management. After starting college at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, he took a break to work for a few years before deciding to go back to school and finish what he started. Clouthier chose Belmont for its Christian faith, small class sizes and acclaimed public relations program. As an adult student, he faced some initial challenges but persevered with the support of faculty, career services and his family. Here, Clouthier shares his story and the valuable experiences he gained at Belmont that have prepared him for a career in PR in the automotive industry.

When did you start at Belmont and what was your background before that?

I started at Belmont as a transfer student in 2022. I graduated high school here in Brentwood, Tennessee, in 2015 and went straight to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I attended there for a couple years but during that time I wasn't sure college was what I wanted to do. That was a tough conversation to have with my family, but I ultimately decided to take a break from school and just work for a while here in Nashville. But it kept bugging me that I had started something and didn't finish it. So I wanted to go back to school, and as I looked at the possibilities, I wanted something smaller and closer to home. I toured Belmont one day and had an outstanding experience. The Christian faith and small class sizes were a huge appeal to me. That's what sparked my interest to get back into school and finish my degree.

Why did you choose to major in public relations management?

I was originally a psychology major, but that turned more into a hobby for me. As I looked at degrees, public relations was attractive because it's a communications degree. I enjoy communicating with people all the time, which is what you do in PR. The idea of maintaining relationships and public image for an organization, internally and with the public and key stakeholders, was extremely appealing to me. I thought it would be a great place for me to stretch my strengths as a person.

What was it like coming back to school as an adult student? 

It was definitely an interesting feeling. I remember it kind of hit me when I had to take my first year religion course. I was talking to the other students who were obviously younger, like 18-19 years old. And me being 25 at that time, I felt a little out of place and uncomfortable, like I didn't really fit in. That was the initial hurdle for me, but I was quickly able to get over that and remind myself that people finish at whatever pace they finish at. All that matters is that you do finish. My experience at Belmont ended up being great.

Were there particular Belmont faculty who were especially helpful to you?

Sara Gibson was fantastic in helping me through my journey with advising. I wanted to make sure I was taking the right classes to finish on time. She was always willing to meet me in person in her office on campus and take the time to show me what I needed to do to succeed each semester. Also Dr. Christie Kleinmann in the PR department was fantastic. She knew I was an adult student and was flexible with assignments because I was working. She was truly knowledgeable and a joy to be around. 

What were some of your favorite PR projects you worked on at Belmont?

In my PR Campaigns class, we partnered with the Nashville Symphony on a campaign to promote their $15 "Sound Check" tickets for college students to scan a QR code to attend. We positioned it as an affordable alternative to going out on Broadway. Our group hosted info tables and events that were a huge success with over 120 people attending. It was a great experience working with a group and building those skills as I got closer to starting my career.

I also took a PR Research class with Dr. Kleinmann where we did focus groups and a semester-long research project. My partner and I studied the impact of online learning in college education during COVID. Our project ended up being over 80-90 pages and won the department's Emerging Excellence Award. I had never done research like that before but it was very rewarding.

When did you recognize that your outgoing personality and communication skills could be an asset for a PR career?

As a kid, I would always get in trouble for talking too much in class. No matter where the teacher put me, I would make friends with that person and talk their ear off. So being outgoing and social and liking to talk is just part of who I am. But growing up, I was reprimanded for it, so I didn't necessarily look at it as a strength. It was when I got to college at an older age that I realized it was actually something I could take advantage of. That's where it pivoted from just being my personality to a tool I could use for career development.

Were you able to get involved with the student PRSSA chapter or other organizations?

I was enrolled in the student PRSSA chapter but wasn't able to take as much advantage of it as I wanted to. But it was still a great source of networking, even for my internship. My boss there was head of a PRSSA chapter in DC, so having that in common was a great relationship builder. They definitely provide a lot of opportunities for PR students. I was also involved with the History Society.

Were you able to do any PR internships while in school?

I only had one internship my last semester before graduating. I felt I needed something on my resume and the opportunity came up with the Tennessee Western Kentucky United Methodist Conference. I applied and got it. I worked on their newsletters, prayer requests, website, app and event planning for their annual conference of about 1,000 people. I was on a team of 15 people getting everything in order. It was a great experience but something I wish I had done sooner. However, you can't change anything, and I'm glad I at least got that hands-on PR experience before graduating.

Did you work while in school? If so, how did you balance that with your studies?

While in school, I worked in landscaping and for a real estate company because I needed money for living expenses. But it was also an opportunity to learn applicable things that I could speak about in interviews and frame in a way that showed the skills I gained. My internship was paid, so I did that instead of for class credit. I wanted to have that real job experience on my resume before graduating. Balancing work and school was challenging but having that support from Belmont and my family made the whole process easier.

What are your career plans now that you've graduated? 

I just accepted a position with Nissan Motor Corporation as a Consumer Affairs Representative. I grew up bonding over cars with my dad, who also works for Nissan. So I have a passion for the automotive industry and want to be around that as much as I can. Eventually I'd love to work in PR for Formula One racing, but that's a long-term goal since it's a mostly European-based industry. For now, I'm focused on getting my foot in the door in automotive PR here. It's a competitive industry, but I'm excited for the challenge!