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Last month the John W. McCormack Graduate School invited students to attend a Q&A discussion with alumna Maria Farrah Howell ’84, an award-winning PR professional who has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and government communications.

Farrah Howell is the founder and president of the Farrah Consulting Group, a Boston-area public relations firm that specializes in guiding public and private sector organizations in navigating and framing public issues.

“I think the biggest thing I've learned from communications is the importance of humanizing issues. I do a lot of communication skills training with people who are in high-stakes situations,” said Farrah Howell. “We’re always looking at them through the lens of ‘Why should the audience care? What’s important to them?’”

Before founding her own company in 2000, Farrah Howell worked as an official in Massachusetts state government, serving as press secretary and senior program manager. She previously received the prestigious Bell Ringer Award from the Publicity Club of New England, an accolade reserved for outstanding New England public relations and communications professionals who are recognized by their peers and clients as exemplary practitioners dedicated to their personal growth, the advancement of their company, and the betterment of the industry.

Throughout the discussion, which was moderated by Economics Professor Marlene Kim, Farrah Howell shared her thoughts on navigating the competitive world of communications, especially as a woman in the public sector. She also discussed the ever-changing media landscape and her path to success, from her experience in newspaper and radio to serving as a press secretary in Massachusetts state government, to launching her own public affairs consulting firm. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of finding mentors with shared values, having a positive attitude, and, above all else, saying yes to opportunities.

“That’s a theme that I have used throughout my life: say yes. Is there a volunteer opportunity? Go for it. Is there a club that you might be interested in? Do that. Find a mentor in a teacher, professor, or another student even. This school has so many things to offer. Avail yourself of all of those things,” she said.

Farrah Howell earned her bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from UMass Boston. She said her time at the university was spent with classmates who were similarly hardworking, oftentimes juggling multiple jobs and other commitments on top of a full roster of classes.

“This school means so much to me. It’s a special place,” she said. “What I wasn’t prepared for when I got here was just how serious the students were. A lot of my friends were going to school full time and working at night. Some had children. People were constantly juggling and getting the work done. There’s hard work in the air here. The students are serious. They want to get ahead. UMass Boston students are going to work harder. You have grit that employers are not going to find elsewhere. That’s a gift.”