Alumni Spotlight: Daryl Richard ‘97

Daryl Richard and his wife with Frankie the Red Fox. Photo courtesy of Daryl Richard.

Former Editor-in-Chief for the Marist Circle Daryl Richard ’97 was the epitome of a Red Fox. 

He was a part of the Marist Poll, played on the intramural softball team and even hosted a talk show on the campus television station MCTV. 

Now, he’s back at Marist College as the Vice President of Communications and Marketing, which serves as a full circle moment for him. According to Richard, he is working at the place that gave him “all the skills to become a professional communicator and go on to have a career in communications.”

Before he officially arrived at Marist as a student, Richard appreciated “the strong communications program” that led him to where he is now, as well as the location and size of the campus.

Beyond being thankful for what he learned in the classroom, Richard’s family is intertwined with his Marist background. He met his wife during his freshman year of college, and two of his three kids will be attending Marist next fall. 

Daryl Richard’s Marist Student ID. Photo courtesy of Daryl Richard.

After graduating from Marist, Richard received a job covering the White House and Capital Hill for a daily newsletter. He credited his education for his ability to advance in his career so quickly; this “dream job right after graduation… speaks to the hands-on experience we get as [Marist] students,” said Richard.

Richard pointed out that Marist students need to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that arise while attending college. When he was on campus as a student, he was able to meet then-President Bill Clinton, as well as complete an internship for Time Magazine. 

If you had asked him what he wanted to do as a freshman, Richard would have preferred to be a reporter and writer. But eventually, most of his career was spent in the corporate communications industry. “It just shows you that you never know where your career will take you,” he said.

He also encouraged students to “test, play, learn and figure out what you like and don’t like.” For instance, it was not until the second semester of his senior year that Richard took a public relations course, which opened a whole new world for him. 

Richard wants to leave Marist students with one last piece of advice: identify the people you look up to who can advise you on both your core field and the world outside your career. 

“Definitely find good mentors and start that now while you are here at Marist,” he said, “and keep it throughout your career.”