2024-2025 PRSSA Kent Executive Board
All chapter photos are courtesy of Carli Cichocki
Spring President – Chania Crawford
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Chania is a senior at Kent State University studying Public Relations. Chania grew up in North East Ohio, right on Lake Erie. She previously served as the Co-Chair of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging for PRSSA. This is her fourth year in PRSSA Kent and her third year on the executive board. Chania is super excited to work with the new executive board in her final year at Kent State University! Besides PR, Chania is passionate about social justice, music, entertainment, pop culture and the arts. Post-graduation, she hopes to continue her PR work in the music and entertainment realm.
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Fall President – Macy Rosen
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Macy is a senior at Kent State University studying public relations. Macy grew up in East Palestine, Ohio, about an hour away from Kent State. She previously served as the VP of Professional Relations. This is her fourth year in PRSSA Kent and her third year on the executive board. Macy is excited to work alongside the rest of the PRSSA Kent executive board. Along with PR, Macy is passionate about the beach, spontaneous adventures and spending time with family and friends. Upon graduating, she hopes to use these passions to become a member of an airline PR team like Delta or American Airlines.
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VP of Professional Relations - Tanner Poe
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Tanner is a senior public relations major from Mechanicsville, VA. This is her third year as a member of PRSSA and her first year on the board. Tanner is excited to work with the Fall President, Macy Rosen, and the Spring President, Chania Crawford, along with the rest of the board to continue to grow a love of PR among students at Kent State University. In her free time, Tanner enjoys cooking, hiking, trying out a new coffee shop, writing and doing anything outdoors when the weather is nice.
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VP of Membership and DEI&B Coordinator – Paul Burlinghaus
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Paul is a junior public relations major from Strongsville, OH. This is his second year as a member of PRSSA and first year as a member of the board. Paul is looking forward to advocating for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging values in PRSSA and taking on the VP of Membership role. Paul is also excited to work with the highly skilled board members in planning PRSSA activities. Outside of public relations, Paul enjoys video games, politics, critiquing food and going to the gym.
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VP of Communication Co-Chair - Shannon Russell
VP of Communication Co-Chair - Gavin Zivoder
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Gavin is a third-year student at Kent State University, majoring in Public Relations. He currently serves as the Vice President of Communications for PRSSA Kent, working alongside Shannon Russell. Gavin’s passion for PR is fueled by his aspiration to work in the media and entertainment industry. In his free time, he enjoys exercising and exploring various forms of media, with a particular focus on movies and manga.
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VP of Fundraising and Community Outreach - Caitlyn Soya
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Caitlyn is a sophomore studying public relations with a minor in event planning. Caitlyn is from Hartland, Wisconsin, approximately 8 hours away from Kent. This is Caitlyns second year in PRSSA and first on the executive board as Vice President of Fundraising and Community Outreach. Outside of PRSSA, Caitlyn loves to be outdoors, watch reality TV and work out. Eventually, Caitlyn wants to work in the sports or entertainment PR industry.
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Special Events Coordinator – Julia Greco
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Julia is a junior in public relations at Kent State. Julia is from Hudson, Ohio and this will be her second year in PRSSA Kent, and her first year on the executive board. Julia will be taking upon the role as the Special Event Coordinator where she is excited to plan annual events and work with the rest of the team. When Julia is not in class, she enjoys using her spare time to listen to music, practice creative writing, sing karaoke and watch movies.
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Social Media Manager – Jess Edmisten
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Jess is a Communications major with a minor in Public Relations from Medina, OH. Jess is the PRSSA Social Media Manager. In addition to her role in PRSSA, she is interning as a social media intern at Davey Tree. Jess enjoys being a mom to her two girls, camping and reading. Inspired by her previous experiences, she hopes to continue working in digital marketing and public relations post-graduation. She looks forward to fostering a love for public relations among Kent State students in the upcoming school year.
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Website Manager – Lara Kilchenmann
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Lara is a graduate student at Kent State University studying Emerging Media and Technology. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Linguistics with minors in Business and Social Sciences. Lara grew up in Basel, Switzerland but spent an exchange year at Jackson High School in 2016. She now returned to Ohio for her masters. This is her first year on the executive board. Outside of PRSSA, Lara works as a research assistant at KSU. In her free time, Lara likes to explore the world, go to comedy clubs with friends and watch movies. Ultimately, she would like to work in the field of digital communications, preferably in a healthcare-related company.
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Chapter Account Executive - Anneliese White
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Anneliese is a senior journalism major with a double minor in public relations and vocal performance. Anneliese is from Cincinnati, OH. This is her first year as an officer in PRSSA and she will be serving as Chapter Account Executive. Outside of PRSSA, Anneliese enjoys reading and spending time at Kent’s local coffee shops with friends.
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NMGZ Chairman – Kylee Coles
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Kylee Coles is a senior public relations student at Kent State University. Kylee joined PRSSA during her first semester at Kent State. She later became a member of NMGZ.
"As soon as I heard about NMGZ, I thought it was a great opportunity and knew I couldn't pass it by. I was a member last year and am so excited to be chairman this year!" Kylee hopes to attend law school and start her own PR firm after graduation. |
Faculty Adviser: Michele E. Ewing, APR (She/Her)
Michele Ewing, APR has more than 15 years experience in agency and corporate public relations. Before joining the Kent State faculty, Michele was a vice president at Marcus Thomas LLC, an advertising and public relations agency in Cleveland and Youngstown.
During her 12-year tenure at Marcus Thomas, Michele played an active role in the management and growth of the public relations division with emphasis on the division's healthcare, internal and marketing public relations communications practices. Prior to Marcus Thomas, Michele worked for two Ohio hospitals.
Under her direction, PRSSA Kent has won six national PRSSA Teahan awards and numerous Kent State Student Involvement honors.
Michele teaches PR Campaigns, Public Relations Tactics and Principles of Public Relations courses. During the spring semester 2012, Michele co-taught the new Global Advertising and Public Relations course, which included a two-week study abroad experience in London.
Michele's research interests include internal communications, social media, student engagement and career preparation.
Follow Michele on Twitter @meewing, connect with her on Linkedin or email her.
During her 12-year tenure at Marcus Thomas, Michele played an active role in the management and growth of the public relations division with emphasis on the division's healthcare, internal and marketing public relations communications practices. Prior to Marcus Thomas, Michele worked for two Ohio hospitals.
Under her direction, PRSSA Kent has won six national PRSSA Teahan awards and numerous Kent State Student Involvement honors.
Michele teaches PR Campaigns, Public Relations Tactics and Principles of Public Relations courses. During the spring semester 2012, Michele co-taught the new Global Advertising and Public Relations course, which included a two-week study abroad experience in London.
Michele's research interests include internal communications, social media, student engagement and career preparation.
Follow Michele on Twitter @meewing, connect with her on Linkedin or email her.
Professional Adviser: Carrie Ann Kandes
Connect with Carrie on LinkedIn or contact her via email. Carrie Kandes is a public relations (PR) and marketing communications leader with more than 20 years of in-house and agency experience. Adept in relationship cultivation and team building, she is skilled across public relations sub-disciplines, has expertise in brand development and has led integrated marketing communications campaigns and teams. During her career, Carrie has worked with both consumer and business-to-business brands in the healthcare, financial, manufacturing, nonprofit, security and transportation segments.
Carrie is currently the director of marketing for the Youngstown and Lorain regions of Mercy Health, the largest health system in Ohio. In this field leadership role, Carrie drives strategies to enhance the reputation of and drive patient volumes for the system within Northeast Ohio. Her responsibilities include leading region-specific marketing planning and execution, focused on activities that effectively position and differentiate Mercy Health; strengthen audiences’ connection to the brand; drive reputation for quality; and increase awareness, consideration and preference.
Prior to her tenure with Mercy Health, Carrie spent a decade in agency leadership, including ownership of her own consultancy, as well as serving as the vice president and associate director of PR for Cleveland’s Marcus Thomas. She built effective programs, delivered strategic counsel, advised leaders and positioned brands for clients including Akron Children’s Hospital; Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems; Diebold, Incorporated; FirstLight® Home Care; Lifebanc; Nestlé Waters North America; Shearer’s Foods; Sherwin-Williams; Technology Management, Inc.; Volvo Group Trucks North America; Westfield Group; and WKSU. During the first half of her career, Carrie served in various public relations and marcom roles with organizations including Diebold and Summa Health System.
Carrie is a Kent State University (KSU) alumnus and has been an adjunct professor in the university’s PR sequence. She is a frequent guest lecturer and currently a professional adviser for the KSU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
An accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Carrie served as the president of the organization’s Akron-Area Chapter and a director for the Greater Cleveland Chapter. In 2012, she was recognized for her work mentoring students and young professionals with the Greater Cleveland PRSA Davis Young Award. A graduate of Leadership Akron (Class XXVI), Carrie was named one of Akron’s “30 for the Future” by the Greater Akron Chamber. She has been active in the community, most recently working for akhia communications, a northeast Ohio communications firm.
Connect with Carrie on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
Carrie is currently the director of marketing for the Youngstown and Lorain regions of Mercy Health, the largest health system in Ohio. In this field leadership role, Carrie drives strategies to enhance the reputation of and drive patient volumes for the system within Northeast Ohio. Her responsibilities include leading region-specific marketing planning and execution, focused on activities that effectively position and differentiate Mercy Health; strengthen audiences’ connection to the brand; drive reputation for quality; and increase awareness, consideration and preference.
Prior to her tenure with Mercy Health, Carrie spent a decade in agency leadership, including ownership of her own consultancy, as well as serving as the vice president and associate director of PR for Cleveland’s Marcus Thomas. She built effective programs, delivered strategic counsel, advised leaders and positioned brands for clients including Akron Children’s Hospital; Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems; Diebold, Incorporated; FirstLight® Home Care; Lifebanc; Nestlé Waters North America; Shearer’s Foods; Sherwin-Williams; Technology Management, Inc.; Volvo Group Trucks North America; Westfield Group; and WKSU. During the first half of her career, Carrie served in various public relations and marcom roles with organizations including Diebold and Summa Health System.
Carrie is a Kent State University (KSU) alumnus and has been an adjunct professor in the university’s PR sequence. She is a frequent guest lecturer and currently a professional adviser for the KSU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
An accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Carrie served as the president of the organization’s Akron-Area Chapter and a director for the Greater Cleveland Chapter. In 2012, she was recognized for her work mentoring students and young professionals with the Greater Cleveland PRSA Davis Young Award. A graduate of Leadership Akron (Class XXVI), Carrie was named one of Akron’s “30 for the Future” by the Greater Akron Chamber. She has been active in the community, most recently working for akhia communications, a northeast Ohio communications firm.
Connect with Carrie on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
Professional Adviser: Stephanie Duffy
Stephanie Duffy is a Vertical Marketing Manager at nVent focusing on energy storage, e-mobility, utilities and renewables. Prior to working for the manufacturer, she worked in the agency world gaining experience in writing, media relations, strategic public relations, social media planning, event planning and project management.
She has worked with clients in several practice areas and industries including building products, Northeast Ohio non-profits and entertainment. Stephanie is a 2011 Kent State University and PRKent graduate, where she served as President of the Kent State PRSSA Chapter and was part of the 2010 Bateman team.
Since graduation, she has served on several boards including AAF-Akron, PRSA Akron and the Akron Zoo’s Summer Safari fundraiser. Stephanie lives in Akron-area with her husband and daughter. As an overly-obsessed soccer fan, she can be found at a soccer game on any given weekend.
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
She has worked with clients in several practice areas and industries including building products, Northeast Ohio non-profits and entertainment. Stephanie is a 2011 Kent State University and PRKent graduate, where she served as President of the Kent State PRSSA Chapter and was part of the 2010 Bateman team.
Since graduation, she has served on several boards including AAF-Akron, PRSA Akron and the Akron Zoo’s Summer Safari fundraiser. Stephanie lives in Akron-area with her husband and daughter. As an overly-obsessed soccer fan, she can be found at a soccer game on any given weekend.
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
Professional Advisor: Sophia Iannelli
Sophia Iannelli is a marketing content manager at BelFlex Staffing & Intellex located in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this role she oversees all marketing efforts (social media coordination, campaign management, content creation, project management etc.) for both companies.
Previously, Sophia worked at Mike Albert Fleet Solutions in Cincinnati, Ohio. In her role as Marketing Specialist, she coordinated marketing efforts such as content creation, project management and campaign management for three of its companies.
Sophia is a 2020 Kent State University and PRKent graduate, where she held four positions on the PRSSA Kent executive board, serving as president during the 2019-20 academic year. She remains a member of PRSA.
During her time at Kent State, Sophia also worked with Kent State Student Media as the marketing and promotions manager.
Outside of work, she is a huge fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and Xavier Musketeers and loves spending time with her friends, family and fur-baby, Hopper. You can always find Sophia at the nearest Skyline Chili!
Connect with Sophia on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
Previously, Sophia worked at Mike Albert Fleet Solutions in Cincinnati, Ohio. In her role as Marketing Specialist, she coordinated marketing efforts such as content creation, project management and campaign management for three of its companies.
Sophia is a 2020 Kent State University and PRKent graduate, where she held four positions on the PRSSA Kent executive board, serving as president during the 2019-20 academic year. She remains a member of PRSA.
During her time at Kent State, Sophia also worked with Kent State Student Media as the marketing and promotions manager.
Outside of work, she is a huge fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and Xavier Musketeers and loves spending time with her friends, family and fur-baby, Hopper. You can always find Sophia at the nearest Skyline Chili!
Connect with Sophia on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
Professional Advisor: Sheila Vandergriff
Sheila Vandergriff is a lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio. She has over 20 years of nonprofit communications, development and public relations experience working with independent organizations, in higher education and in healthcare. With a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University, she began writing engineering reports for a global manufacturer.
Afterwards, she worked at a nonprofit organization where she wrote grants, cultivated partnerships and developed educational programs.
Sheila joined the Hiram College development department assuming responsibility for leadership giving, student projects and cross-country events.
She then transitioned to Summa Health System where she built the fundraising communications platform for the Foundation and formulated publications. With a passion for animal welfare, Sheila returned to an independent nonprofit as the executive director. It was a chance to provide direction, to use her expertise and to be part of an exceptional group of people dedicated to helping animals in need. It also led to collaboration with civic leaders, law enforcement and other animal welfare agencies.
Sheila holds a master’s degree from Kent State University in Journalism, Mass Communications and Public Relations. She’s served on various boards and is a graduate of Leadership Portage County. Currently, Sheila's duties include marketing and business development. Outside of work, Sheila travels, enjoys photography and gardening, and is an avid genealogist.
Connect with Sheila on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
Afterwards, she worked at a nonprofit organization where she wrote grants, cultivated partnerships and developed educational programs.
Sheila joined the Hiram College development department assuming responsibility for leadership giving, student projects and cross-country events.
She then transitioned to Summa Health System where she built the fundraising communications platform for the Foundation and formulated publications. With a passion for animal welfare, Sheila returned to an independent nonprofit as the executive director. It was a chance to provide direction, to use her expertise and to be part of an exceptional group of people dedicated to helping animals in need. It also led to collaboration with civic leaders, law enforcement and other animal welfare agencies.
Sheila holds a master’s degree from Kent State University in Journalism, Mass Communications and Public Relations. She’s served on various boards and is a graduate of Leadership Portage County. Currently, Sheila's duties include marketing and business development. Outside of work, Sheila travels, enjoys photography and gardening, and is an avid genealogist.
Connect with Sheila on LinkedIn or contact her via email.
