Colleen Pizarev is a communications professional with a rich background in international PR and media. During her time at UCSB, Colleen was actively involved in Alpha Phi Sorority and the university’s crew team, both of which provided her with lifelong friendships and cherished memories. Colleen's career path took an unexpected turn after the birth of her son when she transitioned into the communications field. She began as a reporter for the Silicon Valley Report, a high-technology television news program on PBS, leveraging her background in the communications realm. Her experience in international business and PR connections led her to PR Newswire, where she played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s international division. Over 21 years, she ran an editorial bureau, opened offices around the world and eventually led the Global Communications Consulting Group, working with corporations and agencies to navigate cross-border communication strategies. Colleen continues to stay deeply connected to UCSB through the Alumni Board and her Alpha Phi sorority sisters, cherishing the lifelong friendships and community that continue to enrich her life.
In this Alumni Spotlight Q&A, Colleen shares her journey from UCSB student to a leader in the communications and PR industry. She reflects on the experiences that shaped her career, from double majoring in Economics and Political Science to her unexpected pivot into media and public relations. Colleen discusses how her time at UCSB—through academics, Greek Life and athletics—helped build the skills and relationships that guided her professional path. She emphasizes the value of adaptability, seizing opportunities and global communication in her career, which led her to lead PR Newswire’s international expansion. Colleen’s story showcases how her UCSB experience provided the foundation for a successful career and a lifelong connection to the Gaucho community.
What drew you to transfer from SCU to UCSB?
So I spent my freshman year at Santa Clara University. The official reason for why I transferred was because I wanted to double major and Santa Clara University did not allow that, but the University of California did.
During your time at UCSB, you double-majored in Economics and Political Science. Did you always envision a career in the Communications industry, or did that interest develop later on?
No, I never envisioned a career in the Communications industry. I actually fell into it later on! It was after my son was born that I decided to make a pivot. It seemed like something I would enjoy doing, and I was right!
You were a part of the Alpha Phi Sorority—what led you to join, and what was your experience like in the sorority?
It was fabulous. I highly recommend rushing to any incoming students. It’s a way of taking a large school and making it small. I made lifelong friends with my Alpha Phi sisters. I’m still in contact with most of the ones in the sorority during my years, and we’re just as close as in college. It’s wonderful to still have that strong connection 40 years later.
What memory do you look back on most fondly during your time at UCSB?
The sorority and being on the crew team. Crew was very special, it was a very special sport and I think about that very fondly.
In what ways do you continue to stay connected to UCSB as an alum?
Before I joined the Alumni Board, all contact was through the sorority. We would get together every year for All Gaucho Reunion to spend the weekend together and reconnect. I always loved Santa Barbara, and was lucky enough to move back here last year. When I graduated, right after the ceremony, I told my roommate that I didn’t care how long it took but I’m coming back. UCSB was just such a wonderful experience and I didn’t have that in my MBA school. I’m in contact with a few people from that time, but nothing like what I have with UCSB.
How did you first get started in the Communications industry?
I was home with my infant son and I was contacted by the local PBS station in San Francisco, KQED and KTEH. Because I had a tech background (my first two years of college I was a physics major) I was contacted to work on a high-technology television news program called the Silicon Valley Report. I was a reporter there and I did that for three years. It was a part-time gig so I filled the rest of my time as a tech journalist. Because my MBA was in international business, and through being a reporter I worked a lot with PR people and made a lot of contacts and did some freelance international PR work while I was at PBS. When the show was cancelled during a recession, I was approached by PRNewsire to run their Silicon Valley Bureau because of my journalist experience. I had no idea I would spend the rest of my career there. I took advantage of an opportunity, and it worked out.
What did you enjoy most about your time working at PR Newswire?
The people I worked with. I worked with some absolutely spectacular, wonderful people. It was almost like a close family environment. It was a very entrepreneurial company in the beginning and I had a lot of opportunities. When they decided to expand outside of the United States I was very well-poised with my International MBA to be the #2 in the new International Division. I opened up all of PR Newswire's offices overseas, and set up their network of international news agency partners. I was in the International Division for 18 years in various positions and just kept climbing higher and higher and higher. I was writing my own ticket, and creating my own career. I would see a need, I would propose a position, it would be approved and then I would get to do what I want. The last job I had, I ran the Global Communications Consulting Group. We worked with corporations, agencies, pretty much anybody that needed help communicating across borders. It was a very lucrative field. The benefit to this job was I’ve been able to travel everywhere in the world I wanted to go. The only continent I’ve not visited is Antarctica, and that’s on the list to visit in retirement
What advice would you give to current UCSB students who are interested in pursuing careers in Communications or PR?
Learn how to write press releases while you’re still in school. Take a class, get a book, learn, learn, learn before you start interviewing. Working in an agency right out of school is your best way to break into the industry. In the PR industry, the very beginning jobs are really truly an entry-level experience and promotion thereafter is rapid. It’s an excellent and very lucrative industry.
What would you tell a prospective student considering attending UCSB?
What sets UCSB from the other UC campuses is the nurturing environment. Not only will you learn to succeed as a student and a researcher but you will develop as a human in a lot of very important and very good ways. You’re not a number, you are a person and that person is developed. That is a unique experience in the UC System!
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