OU Alumnus Stefen Welch Shares Career Advice with Students

Welch, VP of Public Affairs for the Detroit Pistons, encourages students to tell a story with their resumes

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Stefen J. Welch, an Oakland University alumnus and trustee, sat down for a fireside chat on career development, advising students on how to advance their careers with a degree in communications. As the Vice President of Public Affairs for the Detroit Pistons and a prominent figure in local DEI efforts, Welch shared his own journey and emphasized the importance of diversifying experiences, networking, and telling a compelling story with one's resume.

Why it matters

Welch's advice is particularly relevant for students in the College of Arts and Sciences, whose interdisciplinary degrees may not have a clear career path. His experience demonstrates the diverse and unexpected career opportunities available to communications majors, inspiring students to think creatively about how to leverage their skills and passions.

The details

During the chat, Welch confessed to feeling lost in his last semester of college, but found his passion for storytelling and engagement through an internship at a public relations firm. At OU, he channeled those skills into career pathways, crediting classes like multicultural communication for helping him understand his passion for people, access, and turning that into a professional story. Welch encouraged students to diversify their classes, internships, and volunteer opportunities for a holistic immersion in their community, and to start applying for internships as early as January to build their networks.

  • The fireside chat took place on February 11, 2026.
  • Welch graduated from Oakland University and is currently serving as a trustee.

The players

Stefen J. Welch

An Oakland University alumnus and trustee, currently serving as the Vice President of Public Affairs for the Detroit Pistons and a prominent figure in local DEI efforts.

Lori Posey

The Director of Philanthropy for the College of Arts and Sciences at Oakland University.

Shay Bailey

The chair of the student engagement committee who organized the event.

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What they’re saying

“So I said, 'Okay, let me figure out how I can do something different.' I still like telling stories. I still like engaging with folks. And so I had an opportunity to intern at a public relations firm in Bloomfield.”

— Stefen J. Welch (oaklandpostonline.com)

“Classes such as multicultural communication helped me understand: one, my passion for people, my passion for engagement, my passion for access and two, turning that into my own professional story where I could actually not only have it as my passion, but also something that I can do on a daily basis.”

— Stefen J. Welch (oaklandpostonline.com)

“Sometimes it's hard for students to see the career paths that are available to them, because our degrees aren't necessarily profession-specific, right? A nursing degree is easy to see that you are going to be a nurse, whereas a degree in communications doesn't always say that you're going to be a communicator.”

— Lori Posey, Director of Philanthropy, College of Arts and Sciences (oaklandpostonline.com)

“For those who are graduating, the best way that you can support future OU students is by making sure that you stay connected, that you rep the Grizz and that you're mindful of what's happening on campus and how it connects to ways that you can serve by way of your time or your talent.”

— Shay Bailey, Chair, Student Engagement Committee (oaklandpostonline.com)

What’s next

Welch encouraged students to start applying for internships as early as January to build their networks and gain valuable experience.

The takeaway

Welch's advice highlights the importance of storytelling, networking, and diversifying experiences for students, particularly those in interdisciplinary fields like communications. His own career journey demonstrates that a major is less a defining factor and more of a tool to display one's skills and passions, inspiring students to think creatively about how to leverage their degrees.