What’s trending? URI to host panel discussion on professionally leveraging social media – Rhody Today – uri.edu

Feb. 26 talk will feature local social media managers sharing thoughts on how content creation builds rewarding careers
KINGSTON, R.I. – Feb. 6, 2026 – Nowadays, social media is more than just a platform. It’s also a career.
That opportunity in creating unique content and branding can help marketing and brand managers build meaningful careers in their respective fields. Five industry professionals will share their journeys in social media and content creation in a panel discussion hosted by the University of Rhode Island Harrington School of Communication and Media’s Social Media Agency, and the URI Career Center for Experiential Education.
The event, “Trending Now: Women in Social Media Panel,” will take place Thursday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Galanti Lounge in the Robert L. Carothers Library, 15 Lippitt Road, on the Kingston Campus. The free event is open to the public, and URI students are encouraged to attend—registration is required.
The social media professionals from URI, the Nitro Bar, Taskrabbit, Preservation Society of Newport County and Moore House Design will discuss how to leverage social media, including career readiness, how different agencies measure success through social media, engaging the community and customer service. It will also allow attendees to better understand growing workforce needs for social media and digital marketing personnel.
The event was created in response to increased student interest in pursuing social media and content creation as a career path. Madison Siedliski, a junior at URI majoring in Communications and Public Relations pursuing a career track in social media and digital marketing—and also interning with the Social Media Agency—will moderate the discussion.
The presentation will welcome:
Ashley Bard, content marketing and studio manager for The Preservation Society of Newport County—also known as Newport Mansions. An award-winning creative director with 20 years’ experience across beauty, culture and celebrity-driven media, Bard currently leads content and creative at The Newport Mansions, overseeing digital storytelling and video production. She previously served as marketing director at Good Dye Young, and has directed campaigns for major companies, including Puma, Sephora, Bonnaroo and The Walt Disney Company.
Brittney Darcy ’21, marketing manager for Moore House Design in Fall River, Massachusetts. Darcy leads brand marketing through a multifaceted, creative lens by bridging strategic insight, narrative storytelling and refined editorial aesthetics to shape how design is seen and experienced. Her work spans brand development, creative strategy, public relations, and visual direction with a focus on building thoughtful, culturally resonant brand identities.
Audrey Finocciaro, co-founder of The Nitro Bar, a Providence-based coffee brand that has grown from a single mobile cart in 2016 into several storefronts statewide. She has driven national recognition for Nitro Bar through creative use of TikTok, where her content re-creating unique coffee orders helped grow the company’s following to more than 600,000 people. Finocciaro’s work highlights social media’s power to build community, brand loyalty and real-world business growth.
Amy Righter ’15, marketing lead for social and brand partnerships at Taskrabbit. Righter builds the brand’s social and influencer programs from the ground up, and she specializes in the high-impact intersection of content strategy and creator partnerships. At Taskrabbit, Righter oversees the strategic integration of social media content, influencer strategy, and high-impact marketing partnerships. Righter previously did sports marketing with the Boston Bruins and also agency life for brands such as Dunkin’.
Catherine Scott ’14, social media and marketing manager for URI, where she leads the University’s social presence with a strategic focus on community building, storytelling and student experience. Scott closely works with URI colleges, departments and student teams to create social-first content that strengthens belonging and celebrates the University community’s achievements.
Registration for the event can be made through the event’s web page. For more information about the event, contact URI Employer Relations Specialist Kate Dayboch at kathryn_vani@uri.edu and URI Video Production and Social Media Specialist Leah Pisari at leah_cooper@uri.edu.  
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