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Shannon Russell PRSSA Kent’s fall semester was filled with exciting programming and fun memories. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so we decided to let our story be told through the best photos from this semester. Take a look at our highlights below! August September October November Thank you for an amazing semester! We can’t wait for more excitement this spring.
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By Gavin Zivoder Advocacy for social issues can lead to backlash and controversy. It’s important to use shared stories and facts to support your message, said Antony Fair, communications manager at Preterm.
“You’re selling values and a set of beliefs that people may or may not agree with, and your entire job is to tell them why they should care,” Fair said. This insight was just one of the many valuable takeaways shared at this year's PRSA Cleveland Student Day. I had the privilege of attending this event, hosted by the Greater Cleveland PRSA Chapter and Eaton, alongside fellow students from surrounding universities. The experience was a first for many attendees, including myself. It was filled with great opportunities to network, learn about various fields and gain insights into what it takes to accomplish our goals. Many of the guest speakers were experienced PR practitioners, sharing a common theme: they, too, were once young and eager to gain experience. So how did they utilize the tools at their disposal to reach their current positions? From networking, to persistence, to venturing beyond your comfort zone, these key takeaways from the public relations experts at PRSA Student Day can elevate your PR career. Networking Yes, the infamous "networking" we hear so much about has become a necessity in today’s job market, a juggernaut we must tame to seize new opportunities. However, many of us often struggle with where to go next. Let’s say your goal is to land an internship, whether paid or unpaid, and you’ve built strong connections over the years. You can’t simply ask them for an internship; that would be too easy, right? Bobby Batyko, social media manager at University Hospitals and the new President of PRSA Cleveland, emphasized the importance of using those connections as learning assets. Companies may not always have the resources to offer paid internships, and that’s okay. Instead, focus on leveraging your connections to create opportunities for yourself. Whether it’s participating in social events like PRSA Student Day, getting involved with local shadowing opportunities, setting up informational interviews or offering assistance to professionals, there are always opportunities waiting to be discovered. Persistence Being persistent means recognizing that giving up is always an option; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. However, giving up often leads to missing out on opportunities that hard work can generate. Take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way, even if it is out of your comfort zone. Invest time in self-education and skill development, as this hard work does not go unnoticed by those around you. For example, set a range of goals—some realistic and others that push your limits—so you always have something to strive for. These goals will remain even when you experience setbacks; they don’t just disappear. Get back up and try again because one of the best lessons persistence can teach you is resilience. Adopt a lifelong learning mindset and be sure to celebrate small wins along the way; after all, you are your best resource. Venturing Taking those first steps can often feel intimidating, perhaps due to fear of rejection or uncertainty about the outcome. Learning to embrace these feelings can transform those initial steps into valuable opportunities for growth. The most valuable thing that I learned from PRSA Student Day was how people are willing to talk to you if you make the first step; all it takes is a simple conversation, Kent State freshman Haley Reedy said. If you applied for an internship a month ago and haven’t heard back yet, remember that they are still accepting applications, which means the position is still open. All you want to know is where you stand in the process. Send that email; don’t let the discomfort of feeling annoying or pushy prevent you from utilizing the persistence you’ve worked hard to develop. Embrace uncomfortable situations; we are all here to learn and accomplish our goals. Challenges motivate us to adapt and improve, so harness these moments to make the most of the possibilities ahead. Conclusion I cannot emphasize enough how insightful this year's Student Day has been. As aspiring public relations professionals, we often receive a wealth of information without enough opportunities to fully digest it all. Student Day was the event that truly made everything click. It provided the chance to hear real professionals, engage with fellow students facing similar challenges and put into practice what we’ve learned about connecting with others. What better way to practice public relations than to apply it to ourselves? By Saumi Chatterjee Have you ever wondered how fashion and beauty brands collaborate with influencers to craft that perfect blend of style and strategy to bring their products to you?
On October 29, PRSSA Kent brought an opportunity for students to learn about how brands and influencers work together to create promotional content and all the behind the scenes work that goes into building successful brand alliances. Panel Introduction: Leaders in Fashion, Marketing and Influential Strategy The panel featured Aimon Ali, a fashion entrepreneur, Fashion Runway Show producer and influencer, Lauren Oglesby, an email and mobile digital marketing coordinator at American Eagles Outfitters and Kelly Gentile, vice president at Influential. The panelists provided valuable insights from their personal experiences on the essential elements of building brand partnerships. Changing Metrics in Brand Partnerships: What New Influencers Need to Know Gentile talked about what a brand looks for in influencers. She mentioned a new metric that brands have started to focus on which is the view-through rates. She ensured students that a large following is not required to get brand collaborations and brands have now started to focus on micro-influencers. This means to get brand collaborations, students don’t need tens of thousands of followers. The Role of Influencers in Fashion and Beauty Today Ali also mentioned why influencers are important in today’s fashion and beauty landscape. It is because they bridge the gap between audiences and brands and by creating relatable content that resonates with the audiences on a personal level. By understanding this, students can better position themselves for collaborations by focusing on authenticity and audience engagement rather than followers count alone. Skills for Success in Digital Marketing Oglesby talked about skills required in email and digital marketing. The skills she mentioned was that it is important to be detail-oriented and aware of what’s going on around the world. The knowledge of these skills are important to students because they help them to form connections with audiences while laying the groundwork of future success in the industry. “Tanner, (the VP of professional relations for PRSSA Kent), did such an amazing job putting together this meeting” PRSSA Kent member Chania Crawford said. “The guest speakers were so insightful and gave amazing insights into their respective industries that I know will really help our students break their way into the fashion PR space. Students who couldn’t attend the event could connect with the speakers on LinkedIn to reach out to them for any questions they may have.” This event was a huge success and all the attendees were active in asking questions. PRSSA Kent thanks the guest speakers Aimon Ali, Kelly Gentile and Lauren Oglesby for coming and sharing their wisdom. By Kylee Coles  At ICON 2024, I attended a session by Suzi Brown, vice president of communications at Disneyland Resort, about navigating brand image. Brown explained that at Disneyland, they have seven teams within this branch of their brand. Those teams are government relations, public relations, internal communications, external communications, public affairs, corporate social responsibility and executive communications. Each team plays a different role in upholding Disneyland’s brand image. For example, the government relations team tracks legislation and works with teams to ensure they are abiding by the laws, the public relations team pitches and crafts stories to attract customers and the media relations team handles crisis communications and high-profile announcements to protect the resort’s image. After learning this, I realized the importance of different roles team members take on.
Brown also shared her story and knowledge about securing her executive position at Disneyland Resort. She explained that she got an internship at Disney right out of college, but unfortunately at the time, they didn’t have any permanent positions available. She went on to work other jobs and 20 years later, her connections at Disney landed her a job. This taught me the importance of building and maintaining connections in the industry. In conclusion, Brown provided me with valuable information about making and maintaining connections, utilizing resources and sharing different routes students can take as communications or public relations professionals. After attending ICON, I am happy I got the opportunity to go. It taught me about the professional world of public relations more than I would have ever learned on my own.  Lara Kilchenmann At the recent PRSA Cleveland event, Susan Oguche (Chief Communications Officer for the Cleveland Cavaliers) shared insights on navigating the rapidly changing landscape of public relations. "We are in a very dynamic time," Oguche noted, referencing how digital disruption—marked by the 24-hour news cycle, clickbait content, and shrinking newsrooms—has significantly changed how PR professionals work.
Oguche highlighted the evolving influencer landscape, where authenticity and brand transparency are paramount. She also emphasized the growing diversity of stakeholders, including community members, cultural moments, social media, and government. In the Cavs’ world, the shift from transactional to relational engagement is key. While LeBron James is often the central focus, Oguche stressed the importance of telling the team’s broader story—highlighting community impact, such as their basketball court initiative in Brazil and partnerships like the Coca-Cola collaboration. Narrative storytelling plays a major role, not just in sports, but in showcasing their championship culture and force for good in the community. A spotlight was also placed on the Cavs' technology advancements, enhancing the fan experience at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with unique camera angles and interactive apps. Q&A Highlights When asked about the challenge of joining the team, Oguche reflected on the demanding nature of working in communications. "I think comm people are some of the hardest working people under the sun," she said. The biggest challenge, she explained, is adjusting to long hours. "You work from 7-7, and then the game starts at 7:30." While she loves basketball and even had season tickets before joining the team, Oguche emphasized the importance of work-life balance and taking care of staff, despite the high workload. On the topic of DEI, Oguche explained, “We’re here for the love of the land, for the land”. She highlighted how the social unrest of 2021 brought a renewed focus on DEI initiatives, noting, "The team has put work in that space." Overall, this was a great opportunity to gain valuable insights into the evolving role of public relations in sports and the meaningful impact that storytelling and community engagement can have. References: Smith, T., (2016, October 28). Why is Cleveland called the land?. Cleveland.com, https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/10/why_is_cleveland_called_the_la.html Oguche, S., (2024, October 8). PRSA Cleveland Beyond the Game: Telling Stories and Inspiring Others [Webinar, Zoom]. PRSA Cleveland. |
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