Tuesday, Dec 13, 2022
Kaela Chrizele Canlas balances school work and full-time public relations position
Kaela Chrizele Canlas is a 小优视频 senior majoring in public relations with a minor in sports media. And as of this past September, she is also a proud member of the Philadelphia 76ers public relations team.
Canlas always knew she wanted to work in professional sports, but it wasn鈥檛 until she attended a 76ers Military Night game with her younger sister that she knew in exactly what capacity. She was captivated not just by the team, but by the work of the public relations team on and off the court during the game. 鈥淚鈥檓 a huge basketball fan and that night, seeing it all up close, that鈥檚 when it clicked,鈥 says Canlas. 鈥淚 left that game determined to work for them.鈥
At the time, Canlas had been working with the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the team鈥檚 game-day operations staff for their pre-season and training camp, but decided to transition to a volunteer position with the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers鈥 G League team, in the hopes that it would provide better networking opportunities. Her instinct was right and her determination paid off. A few months later, a position with the 76ers opened up and Canlas was ready for it.
Canlas was offered the position of public relations and communications staff member this past fall, just before the start of her senior year. She has been balancing the full-time job and her school work ever since.
鈥Juggling school and work has certainly been difficult, but my PR team at work and my professors have been so supportive,鈥 says Canlas.
Kaela Chrizele Canlas, public relations major, gives us a look into her position as a PR & Communications staff member for the Philadelphia 76ers.
As a member of the PR staff, Canlas spends her time handling a variety of media and communications for the team. On game nights, she can be found collaborating with her coworkers on tasks such as writing game notes, transcribing press conferences and running team stats for covering media outlets such as ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. 鈥淭he late night hours have been hard,鈥 says Canlas, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 worth it. Being able to help with and be a part of a process that I once just watched from home is one of the best things about my job.鈥
As the only woman on her team, Canlas notes that it has been an 鈥渋nteresting experience,鈥 but that she doesn鈥檛 let it deter her. 鈥淚t just pushes me to do more and be the best I can be in order to stand out through my work ethic and the new perspectives I can offer our team.鈥
Canlas attributes her early success to her Rider education, particularly her classes in public relations and her involvement in the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). 鈥淒r. [Nancy] Wiencek, who has been my PR professor, PRSSA adviser and academic adviser, and professor Charles Ray from my sports law class really helped me get to this point,鈥 says Canlas. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 thank them and my fellow PRSSA classmates enough.鈥
After earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree in public relations in 2023, Canlas plans on continuing to work her way up the sports PR industry and seeing where her position with the 76ers will take her. She hopes to be able to give back somehow and help other students like herself to be successful in the industry.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to know that there are always people rooting for you even when you don鈥檛 know it or see it,鈥 she says. 鈥淢y professors and fellow classmates have helped me tremendously. I want to find a way to do the same.鈥