By: Paige Beck
On February 23, 2024, the University of Northern Iowa’s Public Relations Student Society of America traveled to Minneapolis to visit companies to learn about how their public relations teams operate. The three companies that the group visited were Padilla, Bellmont Partners, and The Mall of America. Padilla The day started at Padilla and the members were given an overview of what Padilla does at their company. Padilla specializes in communications and has three other ensemble teams: Shift, Foodminds, and Joe Smith. Padilla works with many brands and companies to create public relations, advertising, and marketing campaigns. The PRSSA students met with Tina Charpentier, the Executive Vice President of Padilla, to have an open discussion about what it is like to work in agency life. Other employees who have graduated from various universities in the past 10 years, who now work at Padilla, also hosted a Q&A session. They talked about their experiences and what the transition out of college looks like. The biggest takeaway from this Q&A was that while working in an agency, an employee can have different interests and work with a variety of clients. If someone is interested in a specific subject, there is room for that person to explore that interest. Padilla was also gracious enough to feed our members pizza from a local restaurant and cookies from Insomnia. Bellmont Partners After Padilla, the members went to Bellmont Partners. Bellmont Partners specializes in communications and offers many different types of services for their clients. Our members met with Madelyn Elizondo, an assistant account executive, and Julie Goulette, an account executive. These two women gave amazing insight into how to create a work-life balance while working with multiple clients at a time. They emphasized the importance of getting involved within the community after college because it helps you stay connected and make friendships outside of work. They also highlighted that most companies want to continue to see their employees learn and succeed, so being involved in other organizations outside of work is a great way to keep up to date. Mall of America The last stop for our members was The Mall of America. Daniel Jasper, the Senior Vice President of MOA Press, gave our members a behind-the-scenes tour of his podcast studio and the offices of the mall. He stressed the importance of staying connected with people and enjoying the work that you do. He also gave us some insight into what employers look for during the hiring process. Sometimes, it is not about what you know, it is about who you know. Staying connected can help people when looking for new job opportunities. Our members ended the day with some shopping around the mall and some free tickets provided by Jasper for the Nickelodeon theme park. At the end of the day, our members learned a lot from this agency tour and made great connections. Thank you so much to Padilla, Bellmont Partners, and the Mall of America.
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By Marquette Millam
In the spring of 2023, I transferred to the University of Northern Iowa, which placed me in the middle of an academic year. I didn’t know anyone on campus or in my classes. To make some new friends, I sought out opportunities to join a student organization. After not knowing which organization I wanted to join, I stopped looking. Fall semester rolled around and UNI was hosting their student organization fair. I walked around and found a couple of clubs that sounded cool, but none that stood out to me. During my first week of class that semester, a member of the UNI PRSSA Executive Board gave a presentation about why students should join their organization. I went to the first PRSSA meeting of the year and have been going since. How PRSSA Has Helped Me Since joining PRSSA in Fall 2023, PRSSA has helped me make friends, meet new people every week, and help me learn more about my major. As a communication major, I knew there were multiple job opportunities, but I needed to figure out exactly what that entailed. Through PRSSA, I have gained an understanding of what it means to be in the public relations and communication profession and have gained real-world experience. In addition, PRSSA has helped me build my resume and my network. While in PRSSA, I have connected with professionals currently working in the field of communication, where I one day hope to be. Not only am I learning from the professionals, I get to learn more about their companies and agencies. It’s difficult to put into words how much PRSSA has truly helped me throughout college. Since joining PRSSA last year, I have acquired lifelong skills like networking, building my personal brand, the importance of friendships, and how to promote myself to future employers. Why I Value This Organization and Why Others Should Too I value this organization because, without it, I would still be sitting in my classes wondering what could've been. If I weren’t in that class the day an executive board member gave a presentation about PRSSA, I would still be trying to find my way in college. I’m thankful I was in the right place at the right time. My mom always reminds me that things happen for a reason. When I was younger, I didn’t believe that, but now, I believe that hearing about PRSSA and joining was meant to happen. This organization has provided me with the best of relationships with friends and professionals. Others should value PRSSA because this organization will always be something you can look back on. All of the professionals who have spoken to our chapter have reminisced about their time in PRSSA and how they cherish the ways this organization has enhanced their professional careers. Through PRSSA, you learn new ways to brand yourself and acquire unique qualities to help you stand out. PRSSA is also great for networking and it can help your resume shine. To anyone interested in joining PRSSA, I would love to see you there! This organization genuinely cares about your future goals and will help you take steps to achieve them. No matter when you join PRSSA, you will be attaining lifelong skills. See you in Lang 346, on Mondays at 4 p.m. By Hannah Bailey
My last semester at UNI is coming to an end, which means my time in PRSSA is also coming to an end. As I look forward to starting my next chapter in life, I look back at the great opportunities and experiences that PRSSA has given me. My Experience I first joined PRSSA during my junior year in hopes of expanding my network and making more friends who have the same passion and interests as me. Joining a student organization was intimidating at first when everyone was a stranger and I didn’t know exactly what to expect. However, I am lucky to have had the confidence to join or I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet my PR friends and have various professional experiences. Throughout my junior and senior years, I’ve heard from amazing professionals in the industry, gone to regional conferences and agency tours, and have had many volunteer and social events. My favorite opportunity was attending the PR eLevated conference in Chicago. While at PR eLevated, I listened to professional speakers, toured different agencies and companies in Chicago (even Shedd Aquarium!), and most importantly, made connections that will last a lifetime. The Skills I’m Leaving With For my last semester in PRSSA, I was elected Vice President of Internal Operations. Being the VP of Internal Operations this semester has given me multiple skills and has taught me how to manage multiple things going on at once. There have been challenges, but the successes have made it worth it! I have gained many skills and a lot of confidence during my time in PRSSA. With the opportunity to write and publish blogs, I have progressed in my writing skills. Along with gaining those writing skills, I’ve also had the ability to network, which has given me more communication skills and overall confidence. Most importantly, hearing from different speakers has helped me learn even more about this amazing profession. I am definitely not leaving empty-handed! Effect on Job Search A huge personal trait that I have grown from PRSSA is my confidence level. This has especially helped me through the job search process, in being confident when I talk to the hiring company. Another perk is that by being in PRSSA I have been able to find and connect with people who are in the PRSA in the area I want to work and move to. Nowadays knowing people will get you farther than having the best portfolio, so having these connections has definitely been a helping hand in this long process. Outtake Overall, PRSSA has helped me in many aspects. I am leaving with several new skills, a large network, amazing experiences, and lifelong friends. I am lucky to have had a student organization like PRSSA to help me throughout my college career. If you are interested in leadership roles, please reach out to UNI PRSSA for more information on how to become part of our leadership team! By Elisa Macek This year, I was looking to get more involved in the PR world. I am currently a junior at UNI majoring in Strategic Public Relations, with a minor in Digital Journalism and a certificate in French Language Studies. I have been a member of PRSSA for about a semester, and I am hoping to continue being a part of it for my last year of college. There are a number of benefits that come from joining PRSSA.
What Drew Me to PRSSA I was enrolled in Dr. Gayle Pohl’s Introduction to Public Relations class. One day Dr. Pohl mentioned that if we were interested in learning about what PRSSA is all about, there would be a meeting the upcoming Monday for new members. I was curious about it, but I was also nervous because I didn’t think I knew anyone involved in it. I got some courage the following week and showed up to the meeting, only to discover that Paige Beck, a girl I work with, was also a part of the organization! That made it easier for me to keep coming back and I started to gain friendships with others in the organization as well. What You Can Get Out of PRSSA There are many benefits to being a member of PRSSA! Every other Monday, we have a guest speaker who either speaks to us in person or via Zoom. This past Monday we heard from Ron Culp, a veteran in the PR world. He gave us a lot of important advice and information about our LinkedIn profiles, working at a company, and how to stay up to date on company news. Being a member of PRSSA is a great way to network with a variety of professionals in the public relations field! It is also a great way to meet new friends at UNI. We hold many events each semester that encourage talking with other members and inviting others to come see what we are all about. Upcoming Event On October 9th at 5 p.m., PRSSA is hosting a pumpkin painting event at Lawther Field on UNI’s campus. It will be $15 per ticket, which includes the pumpkin, paint supplies, drink and snacks! It’s going to be an awesome event to get to know each other and have some fun during the fall season. I would encourage everyone at UNI to join our organization. The great thing about PRSSA is that you don’t have to be a PR major to join! The speakers we hear from and the events that we host are beneficial for everyone. If you’re nervous about coming or not sure what to expect, you can reach out to any of our members or Dr. Pohl! by: Heidi Heinz
A little bit about PR eLevated In March, our chapter had the opportunity to attend the PR eLevated District Conference in Chicago hosted by Depaul and Columbia University. We were given the opportunity to tour two agencies in the city in small groups and learn from firms about their field of work and forthcoming internship opportunities. We heard from a variety of guest speakers, as well as a DE&I panel! The conference provided an excellent opportunity to network with other professionals and learn more about everything PR, from influencer marketing to B2B communication. A Members Perspective This was the first conference I was able to attend with PRSSA and I learned so much about several different PR firms and agencies in the Chicago region. What's even better is that all of the agencies and businesses we saw have offices all around the world! With that, I understood there are limitless opportunities out there, and by attending a conference, we were able to see the huge spectrum of possibilities. After each panel of speakers, we were able to ask questions about the group and had time after the presentation to network with the professionals and other individuals that attended. PR eLevated offered many stations, such as a resume review where you could work one-on-one on how to improve your resume with professionals who know a lot about what one should look like depending on the profession you’re looking into. The ability to network with professionals was a great benefit and all of our speaker’s presentations were quite motivating. Our ability to network through social media is fantastic, but having that in-person and face-to-face relationship allows you to pick the expert's brain. Everyone at the conference was really open to questions and encouraged us all to have dialogues to acquire knowledge. Building Relationships Not only were we able to connect with other professionals, but also with other PRSSA members. Several chapters from across the Midwest attended the conference, and we were able to meet friends and interact with individuals who share our interests. We were also able to strengthen our bonds with our UNI chapter. After the conference, we were able to spend time together as a chapter and talk about the different agency tours we went on. Having friends who are enthusiastic about your topic of study allows you to form incredible ties that can last long after college. Through PRSSA, I've met some wonderful people, and attending these conferences allows us to build our relationships within our chapter even further. Joining PRSSA and attending conferences has allowed me to make several professional connections with people in the industry while also learning more about the field of public relations. As a member, you can not only attend conferences and network, but you can also participate in our social events, guest speaker meetings, and volunteer for different events. Our chapter captures all aspects of experience that can help you become knowledgeable and build future relationships. I recommend anyone interested in public relations to join PRSSA so that they can benefit from the different networking opportunities that I, and the other members of this group, have enjoyed. The opportunities and experiences that come from PRSSA are truly something that I wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere else. I have definitely learned more than I thought I could know about my future and the possibilities that I might have! To find out more on how to join UNI PRSSA find us on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/uni_prssa/ by Wesley Johnson
Before the fall semester of 2022, I didn’t know a single person studying in the same field as me. I recognized a few faces from classes in the past, but I had no personal connections with anybody, and I never made any attempt to connect with anyone. During one of the first days of a writing class I was enrolled in last fall semester, a member of UNI’s PRSSA executive board informed the class of the club’s first meeting and encouraged everyone to come. To this day I’m not exactly sure what convinced me to leave my comfort zone, but something told me to go to that first meeting, and I’ve only benefitted ever since. First Impressions When I was going into my first PRSSA meeting, I had no idea what to expect. I had never been a part of a student organization before or even looked into joining one. Walking in shortly before the meeting, I was immediately greeted with beaming smiles from members of the executive board. All of them were excited to see a new face. I took my seat and shortly after, the meeting began. Since this was the first meeting of the semester, the meeting was all about showcasing what PRSSA was about, the benefits of becoming a member, and what was in store for the semester. The list of different resources made available through becoming a member and the speakers lined up from different areas of the public relations field seemed like too good of an offer for me to pass up. I thought to myself, “Why wouldn’t I want access to a site that has information about the world of PR and possible internship and career opportunities?” That day, I became a dues-paying member, and I still haven’t found any reason to regret it. What I’ve Gained as a Member During my first semester as a member of PRSSA, not only did I get to participate in fun social events and become friends with other members, but I also learned a lot more than I expected. Being able to listen to several different speakers that joined our meetings either in person or via Zoom really opened my eyes to the different career paths that I could take through public relations. When I chose to become a public relations major, I only thought I was going to learn how to make a company look good to the general public. Being able to listen to professionals who have worked in the many different areas of public relations, and getting to hear about their day-to-day life has opened my eyes to so many different possibilities. I now have a better understanding of what I can make of myself with the skills that I continue to develop and learn more about what can come of a career in public relations. To anyone who may be considering joining PRSSA, I would highly recommend joining to experience the full benefits I have. For anyone who may be hesitant to join, just remember that you don’t have to become a dues-paying member to come to our meetings and get a feel for what PRSSA is all about. For more information about joining UNI PRSSA, visit our website: Membership - UNI PRSSA (weebly.com) by Nicole Beilke
A few members of the University of Northern Iowa Chapter of PRSSA, including myself, recently traveled to Dallas, Texas, to attend PRSSA ICON 2022. This is an annual conference for students from universities internationally. to attend sessions and network with professionals. The last time it occurred was in 2019 due to COVID-19, so we were super excited to get the chance to attend this year! Real-Life PR Experience Right from the moment we arrived at the conference, we were exposed to a ton of fellow PRSSA students as well as PRSA members and workplace professionals. The conference consisted of multiple professional development sessions, general keynote speaker sessions, and networking events. The speakers of the development sessions were exceptional people with a plethora of PR and Communications experience. Some examples included the Director of Brand Communications for Frito-Lay, the Vice President of Global Employee Communications for Delta Airlines, the Founder/President of Publix, the Senior Manager of PR and Brand Engagement for Taco Bell, as well as associate professors from multiple universities. The insight and knowledge that I gained from these development sessions were invaluable. It was incredible to hear from a wide variety of people who have so much experience and advice for us as we are just beginning our careers. Each session concluded with a question and answer segment, where we got to ask them any questions that we had. All of the speakers were so open and answered any questions that were asked. They encouraged us to connect with them on LinkedIn and keep in touch. It was amazing to interact with PR professionals who were invested in our futures. There were two general keynote sessions, which were for all PRSSA and PRSA attendees. The keynote speakers were Katty Kay, a broadcast journalist for BBC, Emmitt Smith, a football icon, and Marlee Matlin, an Oscar-winning actress. Each one of these speakers gave insightful speeches, each one unique. Marlee Matlin lost her hearing at 18 months old, so listening to her perseverance to become an actress in a field where deafness is not widely represented was incredibly inspiring and touched everyone in the room. Katty Kay’s speech on women’s confidence in the field of journalism, a male-dominated industry, was insightful and something that a lot of women could relate to. On top of all of the wonderful speakers that we were able to learn from, we had many opportunities for networking, mingling, and career development. There was a career exhibition where companies and universities set up booths and we got the opportunity to discuss future employment, internship opportunities, and make connections. The mingling events were one of my personal favorite parts, because we got to meet so many students from universities all over the country. We also got to meet the members of the national PRSSA board! What I Gained from the Conference PRSSA ICON provided me with so much insight, knowledge, and connections that I will carry with me as I enter the working world. It was the first time I was fully immersed in that environment, and it opened my eyes to a lot of perspectives. My favorite part of the experience was meeting all of the amazing students and working professionals from all over. We met members of chapters from New Jersey, Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and so many more places. Now, I have a ton of contacts in many different states! It was amazing to get to know them and learn about their chapters and their stories. I hope to get the chance to attend ICON again in the future, and I highly recommend that you also attend if you get the chance! Join PRSSA and become a dues-paying member to get the chance to experience opportunities such as these! Start by attending a meeting in Lang 346 on Mondays at 4 pm! by Alisanne Struck
Every semester I hear countless peers discuss the stress of finding a summer internship. Whether it’s the search for a paid internship or the lack of internship opportunities at their summer residence. Like many other college students, I was in search of a summer internship last year. Searching for the perfect internship can be extremely stressful, especially if you aren’t looking in a large city. I was searching for an internship in Sioux City, IA, which if you don’t know, is the opposite of a PR-centric city. Finding an internship (or a job) can be difficult, however I found some handy tips for anyone looking to land their dream internship. Finding what was right for me First, I had to narrow down my search, but not so narrow that I had strict limitations. My three “qualifications” that I set were: my internship had to be around Sioux City (where I lived), be something that I would truly enjoy, and something that would be paid. I was embarking on a search for an internship that would meet these expectations, and I stayed optimistic. As I looked, many employers were only hiring for remote or unpaid internships that weren’t accessible to where I was living during the summer. I did what some people thought was crazy and started “cold-emailing” businesses. Since “cold-emailing” wasn’t a typical way of sourcing opportunities, I had to use my knowledge of professionalism and electronic charisma. By entering the “hidden job market,” I learned that so many businesses will consider hiring college students! Sadly, finding an internship still had some challenges since I had limited experience. UNI values an experiential learning experience, and that was a point I made in each job inquiry email. Wherever I ended up interning, I wanted the opportunity to learn and grow. When applying for internships, get ready for some rejections. I haven’t heard of a single peer who got accepted to every internship they applied for. I reached out to over 30 businesses in Sioux City, and sadly, I only heard back from about ten. Over half could only offer me unpaid internships, and a few were for jobs that I didn’t feel I would enjoy. However, two offered me an interview for a paid internship opportunity. After interviewing and taking a tour of both their facilities, I ended up choosing the right workplace for me! My Internship and Advice This past summer, I was the Associate Events Coordinator Intern at the Sioux City Country Club. It ended up being such a great experience and I learned so much. I learned about event planning and event design, as well as the behind-the-scenes of a country club. I never would have gotten this experience had I not entered the hidden job market. By creating a position within the country club, I was able to snag an internship that didn’t even exist in the first place. My advice for others would be to put yourself out there! Looking for any new opportunity is difficult, you’re more likely to face rejection than not. However, by showing your skills and desire to use the education you’ve been receiving, you will land a great internship. So many of the professional skills I learned to use were skills I learned in PRSSA. Many of our guest speakers discuss what they look for in new hires, and I was able to apply that to my internship search. For more information on how to take advantage of these amazing opportunities through UNI’s PRSSA Chapter, visit uni-prssa.weebly.com. by Hannah Bailey
Starting something new in life can be challenging and sometimes scary. Whether it is as big as moving to a new city or as simple as starting a new hobby, for some people change is overwhelming. This year I decided to finally overcome my fear of change and join an on-campus organization. I thought what better way to do that than joining an organization that relates to what I am passionate about and educated in. So, I joined UNI Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). My Experience in PRSSA So Far The process I went through to join UNI PRSSA is very simple. The first step I took was going to a meeting. Currently, the meetings are held every Monday at 4 p.m. in Lang 346. I felt very nervous going into the meeting because I was not sure what to expect. PRSSA is open to all majors, but with being a public relations major, I had many friends already in the organization. This was comforting and made me feel more welcome. Even though I did not know some of the people already in PRSSA, I still felt welcome because the members are some of the most inclusive and kind people on campus. At the first meeting, we did introductions and discussed the overview for the year. Just seeing what the executive board had planned made me even more excited to become involved in this amazing organization. At the second meeting, I decided to become a dues-paying member so I could get the maximum benefits from PRSSA. Being a dues-paying member comes with so many benefits to help widen your PR knowledge and networking. Some perks of being a PRSSA member that I think are valuable, are the opportunities to travel to different conferences and networking events and attend different social events at a cheap cost and sometimes for free. Another benefit is to have all access to everything that the national PRSA offers to its members such as informational emails, online articles, and so much more. Meetings make up the majority of what we do in PRSSA. However, these meetings include great information from special guest speakers with different public relations experience/professional intelligence. Although the meetings are very informational, we also have social outings as an organization. Social outings are included and sometimes replace the meetings. On September 27, we had our first social outing as an organization and went to the pumpkin patch! This was a fun-filled day and gave me the opportunity to make more friends that share the same interests as me, such as public relations. These social outings also help to grow closer as an organization and create lifelong friendships. Why I Recommend PRSSA Like I said before, doing something new or out of your comfort zone is challenging, but if you do anything new, I recommend joining PRSSA! There is a wide variety of benefits that come from PRSSA such as making new friends, having more opportunities to expand your network, increasing your knowledge of public relations, creating a resume, writing a cover letter, etc. It also looks great on a resume. It is really awesome being more involved in something special. Overcome that fear and join this fun, but professional organization, you won’t regret it! Check out our website for more information about what we do and how to join at: https://uni-prssa.weebly.com/ by Megan Kramer
Over three years ago, I found myself in my first ever UNI PRSSA meeting, applying to serve as an Executive Board member with an organization I was unfamiliar with. Fast forward to today, and I am wrapping up my time serving as Chapter President of UNI PRSSA. As my time as UNI PRSSA’s Chapter President comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on my time with this incredible Chapter. Six semesters and three leadership positions later, I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for the experiences I have had with PRSSA, the people I’ve been able to meet, and the memories I’ll take away. I’ve served as VP of External Communications, VP of Member Services, and finally Chapter President. Each position was so different yet taught me so much. I can truly say that I wouldn’t be the person I am today and wouldn’t have the opportunities in front of me today without PRSSA. It has been a cornerstone of my time at UNI in making me the professional I am today. An Honor to Serve Each Executive Board I’ve served with has been entirely different and yet completely the same. Full of driven, dedicated, passionate members who want nothing but the best for our Chapter and its members. I have seen this Chapter overcome an unforeseen global pandemic that completely changed the way we function as an organization and the opportunities that we are able to provide to our members. But I have also witnessed our amazing members pivot without hesitation, remaining just as invested in this new way of networking and learning, grateful to even have the opportunity to do so in the first place. I am confident that I am leaving this organization in the capable hands of some of our most invested, passionate members, who will continue to grow and evolve UNI PRSSA for years to come. In my time with UNI PRSSA I have also been able to work alongside the most wonderful advisors who just want to see us succeed as human beings at the end of the day. Without their endless support, encouragement, and guidance, our Chapter would not be the same. Finding professors to support your organization is one thing. But finding professors who become mentors along the way and care about you outside of the classroom is an entirely different thing. Thank you, Dr. Pohl and Dr. Brand, for your support of this organization and investment in it. Take a Chance This organization means more to me than a lot of people can probably understand. It has been a constant in the majority of my college careers and given me more than I could have ever asked for. When I look back on my time in college, I know my time with UNI PRSSA is what I will reflect on most. My biggest takeaway is that you just have to say yes. When I raised my hand in my first ever UNI PRSSA meeting over three years ago to apply for an executive board position with an organization I had never heard of before, most people probably thought I was crazy. But I could not be more grateful to my younger self for doing so. Take the first step. You won’t regret it Leave a comment below to wish Megan the best of luck in her future endeavors! |