Allison Beyer ’09 — From Psychology to Production: Telling Stories Through Light and Lens
Growing up in the small town of St. Johnsville, about 50 minutes east of Utica, Allison Beyer didn’t imagine her path would lead to running a creative agency or filming content for NBC. “In high school, I hadn’t really thought about where I would go to college,” she admits. “I applied to Herkimer [College] just to practice filling out applications.” But that first step would lead to a winding and meaningful journey, academically, professionally, and personally.
After discovering a passion for psychology at Herkimer College, Allison transferred to SUNY Poly to complete her bachelor’s degree. “SUNY Poly was the right fit. It was affordable, close to home, and allowed me to work while attending,” she explains. A commuter student, Allison found her academic sanctuary in Cayan Library, particularly a sunlit group room lined with windows. “It was peaceful—a little oasis where I could focus and grow.”
The psychology program at SUNY Poly ignited her intellectual curiosity. Professors like Dr. Paul Schulman and Dr. V.K. Kool recognized her potential and encouraged her to consider graduate school, guidance that would shape her future. “They believed in me before I did,” she says. “That validation was life-changing.” Inspired by their mentorship, Allison earned her master’s in College Student Services Administration from The College of Saint Rose, deepening the higher education resumé she began building as a student and employee.
Her early career in higher education included roles in student retention and as a career advisor. She found fulfillment helping students connect their passions to their professional goals, guiding others down the path she had navigated herself,” she reflects. She discovered what she had really been doing in her work was helping students be the authors of their own stories, an extension of her love of writing storytelling she discovered at SUNY Poly writing articles and research papers.
But something was missing.
In 2015, Allison made the bold decision to leave the stability of higher ed and pursue a creative calling, storytelling through video. Her partner, Will, had already launched a video production business, and together they saw an opportunity to build something new together. In 2017, they co-founded Beyer Creative, a production company focused exclusively on commercial storytelling. Today, Allison serves as Owner and CEO, leading the company’s vision and expansion.
Her psychology training remains central to her work. “Videography is about light, color, emotion—and psychology is all of that,” she explains. “Dr. Shulman’s lessons on perception and color come to life every time I edit footage or set the mood for a story.” Beyond the technical, her background equips her to guide interview subjects, often high-profile clients, into authentic storytelling moments. “Psychology taught me how to listen deeply, respond intuitively, and lead with empathy.”
Allison’s accomplishments include working with SUNY system and private colleges, filming for national broadcast with NBC, and being named to Albany Business Review’s “40 Under 40.” Yet, she remains most proud of earning her degrees despite personal challenges. “Completing my education gave me the critical thinking skills and confidence to make bold decisions, to shape my life, not just follow a path.”
Her advice to current students? “Talk to your professors. If they see something in you—listen. They’ve been where you are, they’ve invested in your success, and they can help you figure out what comes next.”
From library study sessions to leading a growing production company, Allison Beyer’s story is proof that fulfillment doesn’t come from a straight path, it comes from following your passion, even when it means carving out the road yourself.
