Leah Sierra ’26, a Media and Communication major with a minor in Marketing, has conquered feeling shy while ascending to the role of director of both 1853 Communications and Arcadia’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). 

“I think the biggest challenge I’ve overcome in my time at Arcadia has been learning how to use my voice,” Sierra said. “Even though I grew up around the saying ‘A closed mouth doesn’t get fed,’ I was still very shy for a lot of my life, and being here and choosing to put myself in leadership roles has helped me open up a lot.”

In her time at Arcadia, Sierra, who is from Philadelphia, has kicked off two creative projects: the show “Pillowtalk,” hosted on ARC Radio, which highlights 90s and 2000s pop and R&B; and Big Kid Magazine, which she plans to release more issues of in the future. 

“I think everything I’ve created in my time here has been my biggest accomplishment. I’ve done a lot in my four years here, and I don’t think I could pick just one thing,” Sierra said. “I also think more accomplishments are just over the horizon with my senior thesis project and graduation.”

Outside her public relations responsibilities, Sierra is also a student ambassador with the University’s Admissions Office and a member of Arcadia’s Honors Program. As her time at Arcadia comes to an end, Sierra leaves the following advice for younger students:

“If I could give any advice to future students, I would tell them, if you need or want something, make it known! Your words hold power, and speaking is manifesting!”