Programmed for PR
Bill Cowen ’97, ’99

Bill Cowen’s job is to promote people, programs and places and in doing so well, he’s earned praise from his peers and attracted attention from the media. Cowen ’97, ’99 made it to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2004 list of “40 under 40” as one of the region’s most succesful young professionals. Just a few months earlier, the Public Relations Society of America recognized him for excellence in public relations education. A Rowan communication grad, Cowen teaches PR at Villanova University.

Founder and president of Metrospective Communications, perhaps Cowen’s most significant PR assignment recently was the opening of Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center. In a city full of historical artifacts, Cowen’s challenge was to communicate the importance of the NCC as the world’s first site solely dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. It seems that his PR plan did the job: “When Peter Jennings broadcasts ‘World News Tonight’ in front of your venue, when you give Time Magazine tours and interviews, when ‘Good Morning, America’ covers your opening live,” Cowen recounts, “I think the PR success is evident.”

Cowen’s firm employs eight and serves a variety of clients, from Fortune 500 to small start-ups. He got experience in college with a range of clients. “While in school I took on as many professional projects as I could to build my portfolio,” Cowen recalls. “I did everything from PR plans, copywriting, news releases and media promotion pieces to even some advertising copy and design.” An entrepreneur years before starting Metrospective, he paid for grad school with profits from his sports instruction company.

An avid amateur photographer and tennis player, Cowen lives in Phildelphia’s Rittenhouse Square district.