How College Towns Inspired These DCIer’s Love of Place

As students fill their backpacks with freshly sharpened pencils and head back to the classroom, DCI is taking a trip down memory lane.

Whether our team still has the periodic panic of missing an early class when they wake up, or now find themselves walking their own children around the college campuses they used to roam, one thing is for sure: the nostalgia stirred by these college towns is a force that touches everyone.

Here’s what some of our staff said about their college towns and how they inspired a love of place.

Allie Maniglia
Manager, Talent Attraction

Where did you attend college/university? 

Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania

What made the town unique? 

State College is a quintessential college town and consistently makes the best college town rankings! Baristas know your name, and even on a campus of 45,000 people, you would always manage to run into someone you knew. Plus, the town comes alive on football weekends, where seas of fans and students line the streets. The energy is unmatched!

How did it inspire your love of place? 

I grew up near Penn State and our day trips to go to football games or the annual art festival really made me realize that you don’t always have to go far to experience a new place or an exciting adventure.

Arunima Dey
Paid Media Manager, Digital  

Where did you attend college or university?

Symbiosis International University in Pune, India

What made the town unique? 

Pune is known as a college town, and Symbiosis International University or SIU, is a huge part of it. My campus was on top of a hilly region known as Lavale Knowledge Village. Lavale is a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city of Pune, India, and it hosts the campuses of SIU. What made it unique was the scenery around us. We woke up, studied and went to sleep with nature all around us. The campus is beautifully designed, with all the classes in one part of the hill and the other parts housing our accommodations, food hall and places for recreational activities. The campus has everything from Olympic-sized swimming pools to basketball courts to a cricket stadium as well; basically, everything students would need, but on top of a beautiful hill.

How did it inspire your love of place?

This was the first time I lived independently, so I tried to learn from my experiences, and there were many to learn from. A strawberry farm and places with old artifacts are within driving distance from our campus. So, my friends and I would try to do as many road trips as our budgets would allow and visit these places. I would take overnight bus rides to Goa and Mumbai for short trips to the beach or the big city. I already wanted to travel for food, but living in such a serene place, my love for travel increased even more. Since then, I have lived in more than 10 cities in three countries and traveled to a few more.

Elizabeth Borsting 
Account Manager 

Where did you attend college or university? 

California State University in Long Beach, California. Also known as The Beach, Long Beach State, LBSU or CSULB). I teach a class there now: Journalism and PR: Travel, Food and Lifestyle!

What made the town unique? 

Long Beach is California’s sixth largest city and is probably best known for being home to the Queen Mary and the Long Beach Grand Prix, as well as the hometown of Snoop Dogg and Cameron Diaz – but what I loved about it was its seaside vibe and its quirky neighborhoods, like Retro Row (named so because of all the vintage clothing stores) and Belmont Shore (a neighborhood near the beach with shops, restaurants, etc.).

How did it inspire your love of place? 

When I moved there for school, my roommate and I would spend the weekends exploring new places and discovering fun things to do and places to eat. It prompted me to spend much of my senior year planning a trip abroad. I did the “backpack” thing through Europe for four months. When I returned, I ended up settling in Long Beach (Belmont Shore). Still here! As a parent, my husband and I love visiting the towns where our kids attend school: Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. and Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. (makes us wish we were in college school again).

Nick Reshan 

Account Director   

Where did you attend college/university? 

Denison University in Granville, Ohio

What made the town unique?

At the bottom of the hill on which Denison’s campus sits is Granville, the picturesque village that appears plucked from New England and dropped in central Ohio.

How did it inspire your love of place? 

Granville exemplifies the principles of good placemaking. The charming shops with a mix of offerings, the individual character of building facades and walkable streets with shade and accessible sidewalks all contribute toward the unique sense of place that impresses prospective students and their parents and keeps alumni eager to return. And thanks to smart zoning and preservation efforts, the Denison community will have a pristine village in which to make college memories for many graduating classes to come.

Rachel Deloffre

Vice President, Creative Services 

Where did you attend college or university? 

Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona

What made the town unique?

My favorite part about going to school in Flagstaff was the dramatic change in climate from where I grew up in Phoenix. When people think of Arizona, they think of the desert, but at 7,000 feet, Flagstaff was the perfect mountain town to spend my college years. With more mom-and-pop shops and restaurants than chains (at least at that time), and skiing, hiking and biking within minutes of campus, I officially became “outdoorsy.”

How did it inspire your love of place? 

After falling in love with the mountains and graduating, I moved to Denver! Flagstaff gave me a newfound love for the outdoors, and I’ve not stopped hiking or exploring since.

Natasha Albione
Assistant Account Executive 

Where did you attend college or university?

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in Toronto, Ontario

What made the town unique?

My favorite part of going to school in Toronto was how immersed I was in the hustle and bustle and the culture of the city. Our campus was located in the heart of downtown and you could walk 5 minutes in any direction to be experiencing the city.

How did it inspire your love of place?

Going to university in the city, at what was considered a commuter school, really inspired my love for places and travelling to spots that have a balance of both city and seclusion. Going to school downtown 4-5 times a week for four years can really make you appreciate what your own city has to offer. It can also inspire you to find places that are nothing like the crowded spaces of the city, and make you want to venture to places that are far away from where you grew up and experience life beyond your hometown.

Dariel Curren 
Executive Vice President 

Where did you attend college or university? 

Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island

What made the town unique? 

Straight off the farm, I loved living in a city for the first time…exploring the history and architecture of College Hill, dipping into stores along Thayer Street, overlooking a city that was showing the first signs of revitalization and tasting true Italian food for the first time on Federal Hill. Providence was a revelation to me.

How did it inspire your love of place? 

Providence inspired my love of place because it showed me how multi-faceted and endlessly engaging a city can be…even for a country girl.

Shanleigh McStay

Director, Digital 

Where did you attend college or university? 

Austin Community College and The University of North Texas. Technically, I lived in three places for college: San Marcos, Austin and Denton, Texas.

What made the town unique?

For the sake of efficiency, I’ll focus on one city: San Marcos, Texas. San Marcos is truly magical. The city is small and nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. A crystal-blue river runs through the entire city, fed by a natural aquifer. When I lived there, we would make it a point to swim in the river daily and we never missed a chance to find a new, secret swim spot. San Marcos also has a colorful and historic town square with interesting shops, restaurants and bars. I always really appreciated that most of the businesses in San Marcos didn’t replace old buildings with new, modern structures. Instead, they saw themselves as a steward of “the current chapter” in their historic buildings’ life. I also loved that San Marcos was affordable. Unlike many of the other hill country cities (I’m looking at you, Austin), San Marcos didn’t throw a price tag on every attraction. The rivers were free, parks were free, and you could easily find parking without forking out $20.

How did it inspire your love of place?

I felt like every time I went out in San Marcos, I found something new and exciting. It really made me aware of the possibilities and potential each city had to offer.

Maddie McNamee
Marketing Specialist  

Where did you attend college or university? 

Baylor University in Waco, Texas

What made the town unique? 

When I arrived in the city of Waco, otherwise known as the Baylor Bubble, I immediately felt at home. The town was best known for being the setting of the popular HGTV show “Fixer Upper” and it was often bustling with tourists from around the world, but somehow, it still felt like a place where everyone knew your name. From the beautiful, enclosed campus full of trees to the eclectic downtown that housed my favorite study spots, Waco quickly held a special place in my heart…and still does!

How did it inspire your love of place? 

Before moving to Waco for college, I had only ever lived in my small hometown in Missouri. Suddenly, I was nine hours away from home and learning to stand on my own two feet. I explored every nook and cranny of that quirky town until it felt like home, and it made me realize how much I love finding hidden gems in new places. (Don’t get me started on those Texas sunsets!)

Rachel Barvi 

Project Manager  

Where did you attend college or university?

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas

What made the town unique? 

It’s Amelia Earhart‘s hometown and every summer before school starts they have the Amelia Earhart festival.

How did it inspire your love of place? 

Living in a small town it can get boring, but they have charm and a plethora of growth opportunities – you can make your mark. Whenever I visit a small town, it brings me back to my college days and I always try to find those hidden gems that others may overlook.

Carly Steele Johnson

Director, SEM & Media

Where did you attend college or university?
Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida

What made the town unique?
I loved that FSU and Tallahassee felt like Georgia. There were lots of rolling hills, brick buildings and massive oak trees. It didn’t feel like the flat Florida I grew up in!

How did it inspire your love of place?
FSU has a huge internal program, with dozens of international study-abroad opportunities and locations. My experience studying abroad in London definitely inspired me to continue seeing the world.

Hanna Gbordzoe
Vice President, Digital 

Where did you attend college or university?

Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan

What made the town unique?

MSU is a beautiful state school with a sprawling green campus, a mix of historical brick buildings and new, modern ones, all set alongside a main street (Grand River Avenue) with shops, restaurants, bars and a variety of housing options. I loved that there was a mix of new and historical neighborhoods that catered to different majors and activities – as a student I often would go on a food tour to eat at different dining halls to explore. East Lansing was a great place to live as a young adult, especially with its proximity to Lansing – the state capitol – and central location within the state.

How did it inspire your love of place?

My love of place at MSU was initially inspired by being a Spartan Ambassador, giving campus tours to prospective students. I love my school so much (Go Green!) and was able to share its qualities with future Spartans on a regular basis. My love of place marketing as an industry and career developed during my senior year when I interned at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, working on public relations for both economic development and Pure Michigan tourism campaigns. This internship propelled me into the industry and on my path to DCI!

Andrea Da Silva
Associate, Digital

Where did you attend college or university?

University of Toronto –Mississauga Campus in Toronto, Ontario

What made the town unique? 

I liked how it was a smaller campus in a smaller city compared to the main campus that was downtown Toronto. The walkability and drivability of the city made it easy to get to and from school with my car and it was close to home.

How did it inspire your love of place?

I realized I particularly liked smaller-city living rather than downtown living. More nature, less congestion andmore convenience for my lifestyle.