From Uncertainty to Influence: How One Duquesne Professor Helps Students Find Their Path

PITTSBURGH-- Like many college students at Duquesne University, Sarah M. DeIuliis once sat in class unsure of where her future would lead. Now, as an assistant professor, she helps students navigate that same uncertainty, guiding them from confusion to clarity.

“The most rewarding part of teaching is having the opportunity to see students succeed in their coursework and in their professional opportunities,” Dr. Sarah M. DeIuliis says.

Dr. Sarah M. DeIuliis is an assistant professor at Duquesne University. (Photo courtesy of Duquesne University)

 

For Dr. Sarah M. DeIuliis, that moment, watching a student land an internship, gain confidence, or finally figure out what they want to do, is what defines her career.

 

At Duquesne University, DeIuliis serves as an assistant professor in the department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies. But her role stretches far beyond the classroom. As Director of Recruitment and Professional Development, Internship Program Director, and co-director of the BA program, she works closely with students at nearly every stage of their academic and professional journeys. In these roles, she often serves as a bridge between the classroom and the professional world, helping students translate what they learn into real-world skills and experiences.

 

What makes her approach unique, however, is that she was once in their exact position, uncertain, exploring, and trying to figure out what came next.

DeIuliis arrived at Duquesne as an undergraduate majoring in corporate communication with a clear goal in mind, law school. “I enjoyed public relations and political communication and initially intended to pursue law as my career,” she said. Like many students, she began college believing her path was already set, when in reality, it wasn’t always fully set.

 

That “path” she had thought was going to happen, certainly didn't last.

 

As her coursework progressed, DeIuliis found herself increasingly drawn to a different aspect of communication, persuasion. Not just in politics, but in marketing and popular culture, where messaging shapes how people think and act every day. “I found that I was very interested in persuasion in marketing and in popular culture,” she said.

 

That shift in interest led to a major decision, changing direction.

 

Instead of continuing toward law, she refocused on public relations and later pursued a master’s degree in integrated marketing communication, followed by a Ph.D. in rhetoric. What started as a change in academic focus, ultimately became the foundation of her career.

 

Still, the transition wasn’t as straightforward as it might seem in hindsight.

 

“As an undergraduate student, I was often uncertain about the career that I would end up pursuing,” DeIuliis said. “I was certain that I loved communication and rhetoric.”

That feeling, knowing what you enjoy but not knowing where it will lead, is one of many college students experience. For DeIuliis, it became a defining part of how she now connects with her students. She recognizes that uncertainty not as a setback, but as an important part of growth, one that allows students to explore different interests and ultimately make more informed decisions about their futures.

 

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with students and to help them determine their professional goals,” she said. “And to consider all of the opportunities that careers in communication have.”

 

In a field as broad as communication, those opportunities are extensive. Students may pursue careers in public relations, marketing, media, corporate communication, or even continue into academia. Navigating those options can feel overwhelming, which is where DeIuliis steps in, not just as a professor, but as a mentor for all students.

 

“Mentorship is an essential part of how I see my role as a professor.” DeIuliis said.

 

That belief is rooted in her own experience as a student as Duquesne. Looking back, she credits the mentors who guided her along the way as instrumental in shaping her path. “I am truly thankful for the mentorship that I received throughout my time,” she said.

 

Now, she aims to provide that same support to her students.

 

Rather than expecting them to have everything figured out, DeIuliis encourages exploration. She works with students to identify their interests, develop their skills, and build confidence in their decisions, even when those decisions change.

 

DeIuliis says, “I hope to share a love of learning with students and to help students identify the ways they want to pursue their studies after graduation.” This often means having ongoing conversations with students about their goals, interests, and concerns, helping them feel supported as they navigate both academic and professional decisions.

 

That guidance often extends beyond academics. Through her leadership roles, DeIuliis helps her students secure internships, prepare for job opportunities, and transition into professional environments. These real-world experiences, she believes, are just as important as what happens in the classroom.

 

At the same time, teaching remains at the core of her work.

“I feel so fortunate every day to have the opportunity to teach students at Duquesne,” she said. “I also appreciate the opportunity to share my interest in communication with students, and to learn from them as well.”

 

That last part, the idea that teaching is a two-way process, is something she emphasizes often. While she provides knowledge and guidance, she also gains new perspectives from the students she works with, creating a dynamic and evolving classroom environment.

 

Her career, marked by both academic achievement and leadership, includes publications in journals such as The Atlantic Journal of Communication, Communication Research Trends, and Listening: Journal of Communication Ethics, Religion, and Culture. But despite these accomplishments, her focus remains centered on her students.

 

For DeIuliis, success is not defined solely by research or recognition, but by impact.

 

That impact is often seen in the moments that don’t appear on a resume, a student gaining clarity, overcoming uncertainty, or discovering a new direction.

 

Her own journey reflects those same moments.

 

What began as a plan to pursue law shifted into a passion for communication. What started as uncertainty became opportunity. And what once was a student searching for direction is now a professor helping others find theirs.

 

In many ways, DeIuliis’ story is not just about her career, it’s about experience of being a student.

 

At a university where many are still figuring out their futures, her presence offers something valuable: reassurance.

 

It’s okay not to have everything planned. It’s okay to change direction, and sometimes, the most meaningful paths are the ones you don’t expect.

 

For the students at Duquesne today, that message may resonate more than anything else she teaches.