AU master's degree graduate named a vice president of communications for CBS Stations
Elita Fielder Adjei understands the excuses people use to not pursue a post-graduate degree.
She could have used a number of them and not started a master’s degree program in strategic communications from Ashland University in 2014.
Not necessary? She already was a successful communications specialist.
Too busy? She was an executive in the energy industry.
A parent? She was the mother of three young children.
“I started the program as a single mom, and I graduated two years later married and pregnant with twins as I walked across the stage,” Adjei said. “It has catapulted my career because of the information/knowledge gained and how effectively I was able to use it. The classes were truly geared toward real career and world challenges. Everything we learned I have applied professionally.”
Adjei is now applying what she learned through AU as a vice president of communications for CBS Stations, a position she began a few months ago.
According to a news release, Adjei supports leadership across the company’s 27 owned television stations in 17 markets.
“I absolutely love having a career in communications and publicity,” she said. “I love the fact that a news organization is led by a woman who then appointed three women to lead other major parts of the news business. These are exciting times. I lead executive communications for two of those appointed presidents who are women, and it gives me great joy to know that I play a part in how they present, raising their profile in the industry.”
Before coming to CBS Stations, Adjei was the VP of corporate communications at Disney General Entertainment after being the director of publicity and communications at ABC Owned Television Stations. In addition to the television/entertainment and energy industries, she has led communications and publicity in the sports and health-care sectors, too.
“Elita is a proven communicator and strategist who is perfectly suited to help us shine a light on the exceptional work being done by CBS Stations,” Christa Robinson, executive vice president of communications, CBS News and Stations, said in the news release. “We’re thrilled to welcome Elita to our team, where the breadth of her experience will be an asset to the entire CBS News and Stations organization.”
Of all her career highlights, Adjei said she is most proud of privately mentoring junior executives and college students around the country who have reached out to her on LinkedIn or she has met at events.
It is a way of giving back for the mentorship she has received throughout her career, especially through Ashland University, Adjei said.
Besides the mentorship and its strong program, classes and theories, Adjei said she loved AU for its flexibility.
“The first week of class I was in Singapore,” said Adjei, who is based in Los Angeles and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Long Beach.
“I strongly encourage students to purse a post-graduate degree,” she added. “But I want to target the existing executive that needs a bit of a boost in their profession but may not realize it or think they can’t do it. You’re too busy, you’re a parent, STOP. Do it now, look at the program at AU.”
