When Laura Daley graduated from Transylvania University in 2018 with degrees in writing, rhetoric and communication and Spanish — along with a minor in creative writing — she wasn’t sure exactly where her career would take her. But she did know one thing: She wanted to make an impact.
Today, she’s doing just that as the marketing and communications manager for Lexington Habitat for Humanity, a role she said was shaped in part by a pivotal class at Transy that combined creativity, community engagement and real-world experience.
“That class gave me hands-on opportunities to work with real organizations in Lexington,” Daley said. “I got to see the inner workings of nonprofits, learn from guest speakers and create multimedia projects that mirrored the work I do now.”
Daley, a Louisville native, chose Transy in part because of its location — close enough to visit home but far enough to feel independent.
“Lexington felt like the perfect distance from home — close enough to see my family when needed, but far enough to feel like I was striking out on my own,” she said.
After a campus tour and classroom visit, she knew she had found the right place.
“I remember joining one of Dr. Todorova’s poetry classes as a prospective student and feeling enamored by the way the desks were arranged in a circle,” she said. “Students led the discussion, and everyone seemed engaged. I craved that kind of environment.”
Although Daley did not study business at Transy, soon after graduating she was able to secure positions in demanding professional environments, such as a marketing role at a law firm. She attributes her adaptability to her liberal arts education.
“I didn’t have a background in law, but thanks to my education, I could apply critical thinking and communication skills in a totally new field,” she said.
That adaptability, Daley said, has been vital.
“Being nimble and able to pivot is everything,” she added. “And a liberal arts education makes you stronger for it.”
Although she grew up in a larger city, Daley found Lexington’s size to be a benefit, especially in terms of networking and community.
“Louisville is much larger than Lexington, which has its pros and cons,” she said. “But Lexington felt more connected to the rest of Kentucky.”
She discovered that Lexington’s nonprofit scene, in particular, offered a unique balance between opportunity and community.
“I think that Transy being located in Lexington offers a really unique blend of a city that has a lot of opportunities, but also a community where everyone kind of knows each other,” she said. “If you’re involved in the nonprofit space or other community organizations, you tend to know a lot of other people who are also involved in that space. And so this class, and kind of getting my foot in the door with nonprofits in general, really showed me that there’s a really great intersection between Lexington and Transy and all of the opportunities that being in this city provides.”
An aspiring writer, Daley found Lexington’s literary community especially energizing.
“I got to attend talks and meet people like Wendell Berry and Silas House, thanks to Lexington’s communal writing events,” she said. “It’s a small town in feel, but not in opportunity.”
Those opportunities — from internships to volunteer roles — gave Daley the experience she needed to build a successful communications career. She also credits her professors and mentors, with whom she remains in contact.
“Scott and Kerri from the WRC department have been incredible mentors,” she said. “They’re always willing to offer advice. That connection hasn’t faded.”
Daley now returns to Transy as a guest speaker in the same Writing for/with Nonprofits class that helped launch her career.
“It’s surreal to be the one giving advice now,” she said. “I just hope I can inspire students the way those speakers once inspired me.”
For prospective students, Daley has this advice: “You can build a real future out of what you love. Whether it’s writing, the arts or nonprofit work, Transy gives you the tools, support and connections to do it.”
She added with a smile, “I can’t imagine having gone anywhere else.”
Learn more about how Transy helps students turn their passions into purpose.