By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart
It’s common for first-time moms to feel a shift in their identity upon entering motherhood. These physical and emotional changes aren’t just limited to women, as studies show that even postpartum flamingos can lose their bright pink color due to funneling all of their energy toward raising their chicks. Women strive to “get your pink back” through a variety of methods – some find a village of fellow moms; others take up a new hobby, and many throw themselves into their work. For Melissa (Vaglica) Tiffany (LAAA ’10), her “pink back” activity included returning to her alma mater. The mother, wife, and business owner is adding the title “social media consultant” to her list of many, thanks to earning a Social Media Certificate from SUNY Broome.
Tiffany was born and raised in Staten Island, NY. Her parents longed for a slower-paced life upstate and loaded the family into their motorhome each weekend to visit friends in Binghamton, NY. Then, 9/11 happened. Mid-commute during the attacks, Tiffany’s father spent hours trapped in the Lincoln Tunnel, unable to communicate with his wife and children. The Vaglicas, like all Americans, were shaken to their core. At the urging of their Broome County friends, the family decided that it was time to trade in their life in the boroughs for a quieter existence in the Southern Tier.
Leaving Staten Island also forced the Vaglicas to leave their jobs in the city. In search of a new venture, they purchased All Star Sports, a family-owned and operated printing business based in Owego. When the Vaglica kids weren’t in school, they were kept busy by helping their parents expand All-Star Sports’ range of services to include printed and embroidered clothing, uniforms, promotional products, and awards.
After graduating from Union-Endicott High School, Tiffany enrolled at SUNY Broome. Like most 18-year-olds, she was unsure about what she wanted to pursue professionally and decided to explore her options through the Liberal Arts and Sciences: A.A. program.
Armed with her Liberal Arts and Sciences: A.A. degree, Tiffany dabbled in the field of early childhood education, before ultimately joining her parents and older brothers full-time at the family business.
In 2024, Tiffany and her husband Jonathan welcomed their first child, a son, named Hudson. Balancing new motherhood with managing a business left Tiffany craving something for herself. After a little late-night googling, she found that her “something” could be achieved through her community’s college.
Fourteen years after her first foray into higher education, Tiffany returned to SUNY Broome with a more concrete plan. A quintessential millennial, she was always drawn to social media, but wanted to explore the inner workings of each platform further. Hoping to learn how to optimize the visibility and engagement of her own accounts, Tiffany enrolled in SUNY Broome’s 24-credit Social Media Certificate.
“I can’t pretend that I wasn’t scared to be a student again,” Tiffany reflected. “Online learning has really expanded since the last time I was at SUNY Broome and this was my first experience with online classes. Thankfully, I had a hyflex course with Professor Denise Wells, and she eased me back into the swing of things. As the two oldest people in the room, we bonded. I would always stay after class so that we could chat. It’s been so great to have her support.”
As she studied topics like “Digital Media Tools and Tactics” and “Writing for the Media,” Tiffany banked each new engagement strategy and marketing technique to implement at All Star Sports. The goal of each class was simple: “Learn and apply it to our business.”
100% of the Social Media Certificate can be completed online. Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers
But Tiffany wasn’t the only person benefitting from her presence in the classroom. One day, during a marketing class with Professor Wells, SUNY Broome’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Kerry Gallagher, visited to discuss the College’s plan to revamp the official logo. Gallagher presented the class with several samples in search of their input. Little did she know that there was a trademark expert in the class.
“Logos are my life,” Tiffany laughed. “At one point, Ms. Gallagher shared a logo that I knew would be a nightmare to embroider. When she asked for my opinion, I couldn’t hold back. I just blurted out, ‘I hate it.’ She appreciated my industry perspective as a vendor and ended up passing on that logo right then and there.”
While her classes were undoubtedly rewarding both personally and professionally, being a full-time student, full-time business owner, and first-time mother to an infant, was naturally overwhelming. Tiffany credits her ability to balance it all to her close-knit support system of her husband, parents, and brothers.
“I definitely had to learn to be creative with my time. I bring Hudson to work with me everyday, which is certainly a bonus, especially considering that his grandpa and uncles are there as well,” Tiffany explained. “I found that working on my classwork sporadically throughout the day is best for my busy schedule. I work during naps, post-dinner, pre-bath, and then after we get Hudson down for the night.”
Earning a spot on the President’s List for the fall semester reaffirmed that each late-night homework assignment or early-morning study session was worth it. Tiffany is set to officially earn her social media certificate this May. She intends to funnel her new expertise towards growing All Star Sports and also plans to launch a private social media consulting firm. Deeply in tune with the unique challenges of mom-and-pop businesses, Tiffany hopes to shepherd other family-owned businesses through the complex world of digital media and social platforms.
When asked to share advice for fellow working mothers contemplating returning to school, Tiffany had a hopeful message: “Just do it. It’s scary, but it’s worth it. You need to be proud of yourself for something that’s specific to your hard work and accomplishments.”
Did Melissa’s story inspire you to embark on your own academic journey at SUNY Broome? Your first step is to Apply Now through SUNY Broome’s FREE application. For more information, please feel free to contact Admissions at 607-778-5001 or admissions@sunybroome.edu.
All Social Media students will complete courses in: Social Media for Professional Use, Social Media Campaigns, Marketing, Advanced Digital Media Content, Writing for Media, Introduction to Spreadsheets, Project Management, and Photoshop. Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers
Tags: Business and Professional Studies Division, Liberal Arts Division, Profile, Social Media Certificate
