 By: Julia Greco
Her Role at Disney From coordinating Kent State’s PRSSA networking events to managing communications for Walt Disney World, alumna Meghan Caprez turned her dreams into a lifelong career of storytelling and communications strategy. As a communications manager at Walt Disney World, Caprez supports corporate social responsibility initiatives and Disney’s transportation division, helping shape the brand’s image across Florida’s parks and resorts. “My department is in charge of the reputation of Walt Disney World,” she said. “Every cast member has a story, and being able to represent and share those 80,000 stories is just a really awesome place to be.” Her Journey to Disney Her journey began in high school, when she first learned about the Disney College Program. By the time she arrived at Kent State, she was already planning to make it part of her college experience. “I walked into my first advising appointment saying, ‘I will need to plan to have a semester off so I can do the Disney College Program,” she said. After completing two Disney College Programs and earning her bachelor’s degree in public relations and master’s in communication studies, she landed a professional internship with Disney at 22. There, she would do work such as writing speeches for the president of Walt Disney World. “I remember thinking, how is this my real life?” she said. That internship launched a career path that’s taken her through digital analytics, project management and major milestones like Disney’s 50th anniversary celebration. Favorite Moments and Key Takeaways Among her favorite projects is the “Once Upon a Wish” event with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in which Disney hosted 50 children and their families for a royal ball experience. “Watching the moms crown their daughters with the crowns they designed themselves–it was chills and tears,” she said. “These are the moments that remind you why we do what we do.” Looking back, she credits PRSSA Kent for helping her build the professionalism and confidence that set her apart in corporate communications. “PRSSA gave me the tools I needed to step into the professional world and be ready for it,” she said. “You never stop networking, it doesn’t end when you leave college.” Advice to current students: “Relentlessly pursue your dreams”
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 By Audrey McCarthy
In 2024, as a sophomore, I had the opportunity to work as a retail operations intern for the Cleveland Guardians. This exciting opportunity gave me great experience with the sports industry. When I wasn’t working in the gift shop, I was learning from professionals in the Cleveland Guardians organization. Speaker Series During the season, I attended several speaker series in which professionals from different industries within the organization shared their background, what they do for the Guardians and general advice about success. Some of the fields I learned about included marketing, community impact, security, ballpark operations, corporate partnerships, communications, travel and logistics and merchandising. Each of these speakers gave me a unique look into the professional sports world. Job Shadowing In addition to learning about multiple industries, I was also given the opportunity to shadow any speaker in the industry of my choosing. My coworker and I shadowed Austin Controulis, the assistant director of communications, who recommended that I join PRSSA. The first thing I did was observe a Stephen Vogt interview where I sat in the audience with multiple reporters and sportscasters. After this, Austin took me through the clubhouse and onto the field where he shared more about the communications industry as we watched the team warm up. Then, we walked to the media press box seats where we spoke to the Cleveland Guardians’ social media manager. This experience was extremely valuable and gave me helpful insight into what it’s like to manage communications for a professional sports team in a fast-paced environment. Gift shop On game days, I worked as a cashier in the gift shop. 2024 was a very successful year for the Guardians, and sales in the gift shops definitely reflected this. This season brought in some of the most successful days in sales. Conclusion This experience was insightful, intriguing and memorable. It helped me determine that sports communications is definitely something I want to pursue.dit. By Amanda Hickey  By Ana Julia Facco From Brazil to the U.S. When I was 20, I moved from Brazil to the United States to finish my college degree. Moving to an entirely new place with a different language and culture is one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced. In the beginning, I would get frustrated when people noticed my accent because I felt like I would never find my own community. Now, it’s one of my favorite topics because it helps me connect with others while easing my homesickness. Brazil’s Beauty It’s hard not to miss Brazil because of everything it has to offer. I often think about the delicious food and drinks, the beautiful landscapes, the bright smiles, the kind interactions and the appreciation for life. I’ve experienced the different cultures and backgrounds within my home country and explored the various traditions and cultures in a broader context. I am very lucky to have Brazilian friends here in Kent who are experiencing the same mixed emotions of moving to the Northern Hemisphere. We stay connected to our culture by speaking Portuguese and cooking our favorite meals. When the longing for home becomes overwhelming, speaking the complex beauty of the Portuguese language soothes me, word for word. My favorite characteristic of my culture is our compassion for others. At home, everyone wants to help their peers succeed. There’s always time to stop and lend a helping hand to someone in need. My culture’s emphasis on compassion has positively impacted my moral values and mindset, even when I am overseas. Listening to Brazilian music always brings a smile to my face. Having a positive mindset is one lesson from home that I carry wholeheartedly. Staying positive has helped me navigate life independently, teaching me to celebrate every achievement and enjoy each moment. Studying abroad has strengthened my connection to my Brazilian heritage, which I consider the most beautiful part of myself. Being away from home made me realize just how much pride I take in carrying Brazil within me.   By Paige Johnson
PRSSA Kent students learn campaign strategy at first guest speaker meeting ‘Cooking Up a Campaign: The Swensons Strategy’ Students came hungry for campaign wisdom at PRSSA Kent’s first guest speaker event of the semester, ‘Cooking Up a Campaign: The Swensons Strategy.’ The meeting featured a panel discussion followed by a Q&A, giving students a chance to learn directly from the pros and dig into best practices for building standout campaigns. PRSSA Kent welcomed Chanté Jones, vice president of communications, and Lane Strauss, senior vice president and creative director, at Falls & Co., a Cleveland-based marketing agency known for its award-winning work. With multiple PRSA Cleveland Rocks Awards to its name, Falls & Co. stands out as one of Northeast Ohio’s top firms. In 2024, Swensons Drive-In approached Falls & Co. with the goal of refreshing the brand while still honoring their 90-year legacy. Through integrated marketing and communications tactics, Falls & Co. was able to emphasize the brand's hometown connection. For example, real Swenson's curb servers were featured in billboard ads and social media videos. Jones and Strauss walked students through Falls & Co.’s media relations strategy, breaking down key tactics like embargoed press releases and leveraging popular news segments to maximize coverage. Overall, students could easily see why the campaign won so many Rocks Awards. “This was one of my favorite panels we’ve ever had at PRSSA,” said Caitlyn Soya, vice president of membership at PRSSA Kent. “I would love to hear more about agency work in the future.” Many students shared Soya’s sentiments, with several expressing interest in agency work after the meeting. A special thank you to Jones and Strauss for being such inspiring guests! Their insights sparked curiosity, creativity and a deeper sense of purpose among our students, reminding us all why we fell in love with PR in the first place. |
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