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By Megan Bradshaw on April 3, 2017

Ryan Perpall, ’19, mass communications major (concentration in public relations) / entrepreneurship minor

 

Tell me about where you’re from.

I’m from Glendale, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. My favorite part of growing up there was going to the splash park. It’s basically the only thing in Glendale. We went to the movies a lot. I like suspense thrillers, action and dramas. There was a lot of camping in parks.

Tell me about your family.

I have a twin sister. She goes to school in Virginia [Hampton University], and I have an older brother who went to China for four months. He got an opportunity to study abroad and he took it. He goes to Bowie State. My parents are both doctors. My mom is a podiatrist and my dad is internal medicine.

What made you choose Towson University?

I like how it’s at least an hour from where I live, but the MARC train makes it easy to get from Baltimore to D.C. I like having that dual city aspect.

What made you pick your major?

I’ve always been interested in how messages get across. I watched Mad Men and that got me interested in advertising. Public relations seems like the more authentic kind [of communication]. I also like the major for how it teaches me about life and communication.

What do you do in your free time?

I spend most of my free time working on my start up. I started BreakBox about a year and a half ago. It’s going to launch in the spring. I’ve grown a team on campus, about 18 students, so I spend most of my time working with them, trying to make this come alive. I’m also a part of the Student Launchpad in the ambassadors’ team. I’ve been a part of Club RECN (real estate club network) as the chief of staff, and I’ve been on the exec board of BOSSES for about a year now.

What is your favorite class or professor?

I have two favorite professors. [The first is] Jan Baum, the director of the entrepreneurship minor. She just keeps it real, and she seems like she really wants to help out students in terms of life and entrepreneurship. My other favorite professor is Marsha Becker. I had her for theatre for social change. She really opened my eyes to a lot of issues.

What is your favorite thing about TU?

The diversity. Being able to jump around different circles on campus and hear completely different worldviews is nice. You don’t have to live in a bubble.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to continue working on my start-up and go to grad school to get a master’s in either sustainability or film…or both.