By: Amelia Workman
Every other Wednesday at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall, students meet from many different majors and backgrounds to share their love for the public relations and communications field. Smiles fill the room, as members seek to grow as aspiring communications professionals. Kent State’s Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is a pre-professional public relations organization open to students of any major, with meetings focused on many different topics centered around public relations. The Kent Chapter won “Chapter of the Year” at the 2019 International PRSSA Conference and continues to make a name for itself on a national level. Faculty advisor Michele Ewing, has provided direction to the organization for 16 years. “The PRSSA Kent students invest countless hours to serve members, the campus and community. It was rewarding to see their dedication and work recognized," Ewing said. Meeting topics frequently discussed include: networking, landing an internship, LinkedIn workshops and the many different sectors of PR. Members meet with professionals to learn more about the growing industry. PRSSA members have gained countless opportunities from the organization, as well as the ability to obtain leadership positions. Sam Farland, a junior public relations student at Kent State, holds the position of Web and Social Media Manager. She was elected last year and manages the organization’s social media platforms and website. She said PRSSA gave her the opportunity to possess leadership skills. “PRSSA has given me the tools to succeed in the PR industry. This knowledge has helped me define my career path and figure out my true purpose in life.” Students not only gain industry knowledge and skills at the meetings, but also at the international conference and other events. Last year, members traveled to San Diego to attend the PRSSA International Conference. Conference panels included topics such as personal branding, crisis communication, celebrity PR and much more. They were also able to attend conference sessions with renowned people such as Bob Woodward, Associate Editor at The Washington Post; Laura Ling, award-winning journalist and Vincente Fox, former President of Mexico. Public relations is a growing industry. Employers value content creation, personal branding and enhanced communication skills. Professors like Ewing stress the importance of the industry to students and members of PRSSA. She even highlights the importance of the field during crises like the current COVID-19 pandemic. “Public relations offers the opportunity to make meaningful differences for nonprofit organizations, social causes, corporations and many other organizations." Ewing said. "We’re advocates to help people, causes and companies. Just look at the value of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic-PR professionals are developing and managing communication to keep people safe.” PRSSA allows students to meet new people who help them continue their journeys throughout college. Every major is welcome to attend the meetings and have the option to become a dues-paying member. Meetings are held every other Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in 213 Franklin Hall. You can contact VP of Membership, Ally Viano with any questions. To join you can also apply here.
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This semester two students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) traveled to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. with the National Millennial Community (NMC) to participate in think tank discussions with key influencers in entertainment, business, and government.
NMC is a group that works to change the conversation about the millennial generation and engage in meaningful dialogue with corporate, foundation, governmental and nonprofit leaders across the country. Founded in January 2016 by IW Group Inc. CCO Bill Imada, NMC has 36 member campuses in 35 states, ranging from Alaska to Florida and from Massachusetts to Hawaii, plus the District of Columbia. Kent State joined NMC earlier this year. Public relations majors Bella Grossi, Natalie Meek, Ava Moss and Molly Spillman are the chapter’s inaugural members. Senior public relations major Grossi traveled to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. in March to meet with agencies and corporations such as Tierney, Vault Communications, WeWork, Comcast, the YWCA, PBS and Lockheed Martin. She also visited the White House where she met with national leaders, Steven Munisteri (Deputy Assistant to the President), Andrew Giuliani (Public Liaison Assistant to the President) and Laura Pence (Policy Advisor to the Sr. Counselor) to discuss what the administration is doing about the opioid epidemic. “I am so grateful to have the chance to change the conversation about millennials and contribute to discussions focused on the betterment of our country,” Grossi said. Kent State is currently the only university in Ohio part of the NMC, so the students not only represent the university, but also Ohio millennials during the nationwide discussions. “I’m really honored to be able to represent Ohio and Kent State on a national level,” Grossi said. “During think tank discussions and focus groups, its eye-opening to hear about everyone's different opinions based on their experiences and where they are from.” Ava Moss experienced sunny California when she visited Los Angeles with the NMC in January. While there, she met with big names in the entertainment and public relations industries. Moss’s favorite stops included Walt Disney Imagineering, Weber Shandwick/The Axis Agency and Paramount Studios. Discussions with employees and executives ranged from millennial work/life balance to tips on how to be successful in your desired line of work. The biggest lesson Ava said she took from her time in LA was to always listen as strongly as you voice your opinion. “To me, being in the National Millennial Community is an opportunity to make my voice heard and know for a fact my opinions matter,” Moss said. “Listening to others’ experiences and opinions helped me in becoming a more well-rounded and empathetic person.” Kent State’s NMC chapter operates as a faculty-appointed subcommittee of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and associate professors Luke Armour and Stefanie Moore are faculty advisors of the group. Public relations alumnus Chris Baldwin, founder and principal of True Digital Communications, serves as a professional advisor for the group. “I’m excited about the future of this community and how this group will evolve as our millennial students graduate and we usher in a new generation,” Moore said. Learn more about the NMC at http://www.nationalmillennialcommunity.com/. Learn more about PRSSA Kent at http://www.prssakent.com. Four PRSSA Students Kickstart the Kent State Chapter of the National Millennial Community12/11/2017 By Natalie Meek
This semester four students in the school of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) joined the National Millennial Community (NMC), a group that works to change the conversation about the millennial generation and engage in meaningful dialogue with corporate, foundation, governmental and nonprofit leaders across the country. Founded in January 2016 by Bill Imada, NMC has 36 member campuses in 35 states, ranging from Alaska to Florida and from Massachusetts to Hawaii, plus the District of Columbia. Kent State’s chapter, a subcommittee of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), includes Bella Grossi, Natalie Meek, Ava Moss and Molly Spillman as the inaugural chapter members. Students actively participate in discussions and Think Tank conversations with key influencers in government, business and local communities. “To me, being in the National Millennial Community is an opportunity to make my voice heard and know for a fact my opinions matter,” public relations senior Ava Moss, said. NMC has met with more than 120 executives and more than 60 directors and managers from companies such as AT&T, eBay, Coca-Cola, Ernst & Young, Google, IBM, Lockheed Martin, McDonald's, Verizon, Walt Disney and Warner Bros. Kent State is the only university in Ohio part of the NMC, so the students represent Ohio millennials during the nationwide discussions. Public relations senior, Bella Grossi, said she has enjoyed the conversations with professionals and spoke to Susan Jin Davis, Chief Sustainability Officer at Comcast, last month. “I answered a question about what millennials look for in the workplace and what values are important to us,” Grossi said. Public relations junior, Natalie Meek, said she is excited to be a part of the National Millennial Community because of the amazing networking opportunities. “Having a platform that encourages positive conversation about millennials is so important,” Meek said. “Speaking with professionals and students from across the country has been an amazing experience.” The group operates as a faculty-appointed sub-committee of the school’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and is advised by JMC faculty members Associate Professor Stefanie Moore and Assistant Professor Luke Armour. Public relations alumnus, Chris Baldwin, founder and principal of True Digital Communications, also serves as a professional advisor for the group. “I’m excited about the future of this community and how this group will evolve as our millennial students graduate and we usher in a new generation,” Moore said. ![]() By Natalie Meek Associate Professor Michele Ewing earned the Public Relations Student Society of America’s (PRSSA) highest honor for Chapter advisor at the organization’s national conference earlier this month. Fifteen members of PRSSA Kent, along with Ewing, who has served as Kent State’s Chapter advisor for 14 years, traveled to Boston for the conference, where Ewing received the Teahan Faculty Advisor Award for outstanding service, guidance and contribution to the chapter. Along with Ewing’s honor, two Kent State public relations students were recognized with national honors, and the members had the chance to attend sessions with top-notch professionals covering everything from crisis communications to celebrity publicity management in the PR industry. PRSSA Kent President Latisha Ellison, ‘18, was awarded the National President’s Citation, a special honor for students who have left a lasting impact on PRSSA through work in their Chapters and on a national level. Ellison, a public relations major, has been actively involved in PRSSA since her freshman year. Public relations major Charleah Trombitis, ‘18, PRSSA Kent’s vice president of professional relations, earned the Gold Key Award, which is the highest PRSSA honor for individual students. This recognizes her academic excellence, ambitious professional development pursuits and leadership in the Chapter over her four years at Kent State. PRSSA Kent is well known among the national organization for its consistent success and leadership. Each year it competes with hundreds of other Chapters for several awards. The Kent Chapter, once again, earned a Star Chapter award for continually exceeding its chapter and professional development goals. Out of more than 300 Chapters in the United States, Argentina, Colombia and Peru, only 15 percent of all PRSSA Chapters earn this distinction. PRSSA continues enhance the leadership of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. It enables students to further pursue their passion and ensures that they are on path for professional success. |
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