By: Vanessa Jenneman
The Dr. Julie Henderson Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) UW Oshkosh Chapter provides many networking and leadership building opportunities for their members. Joining PRSSA opens exciting doors whether that is attending events to learn and form connections with PR professionals, to applying lessons learned in the classroom through researching, planning and facilitating a campaign.
2024 Midwest PRSSA District Conference
UWO PRSSA members attended the 2024 Midwest District Conference.
Pictured left to right: Logan Rabbit, Marshall Lautenbach, Jocelyn Nunez, Nicole
Paulson and Emma Mott
Attending pre-professional networking events are great experiences for students wanting to pursue a career in the public relations industry because it gives them the chance to learn from successful professionals in the field.
Members of the UWO PRSSA chapter attended the DePaul University PRess Play 2024 Midwest District Conference in Chicago, Illinois where they participated in a variety of sessions on topics such as diversity equity and inclusion and case studies on recent campaigns and toured various PR agencies.
“It was a really good opportunity to network and start building meaningful relationships, ” Marshall Lautenbach, a UWO PRSSA member, said. “In addition we also got the chance to receive key insights in the PR industry while touring well known agencies like Zeno Group, Edelman and Molson Coors Beverage Company.”
Attending the PRess PLay conference, gave students an inside look into what PR professionals want during the hiring process.
“I had the opportunity to listen to panels from a range of different PR industries such as non-profit, agency, freelance and corporate,” Nicole Paulson, a UWO PRSSA member said. “One thing that every single person on each panel emphasized was the importance of being curious. These PR professionals look for people who are always asking questions and taking time to learn and develop their skills.”
Not only did these students expand their professional network they were also fortunate to meet other like-minded PR students.
“Along with getting to meet these professionals, I had the opportunity to meet students like me who are in PRSSA and what their experience has been like as a PR student,” Paulson said. “I was surrounded by amazingly creative and kind individuals who were just as excited to learn as I was.”
2024 PRSSA Leadership Assembly
Two UWO PRSSA executive board members attend the 2024 Leadership Assembly.
Pictured left to right: Jocelyn Nunez (UWO PRSSA president), Emma Mott (UWO PRSSA vice president of public relations)
Two members of the UWO PRSSA chapter, Jocelyn Nunez and Emma Mott, were fortunate to attend the 2024 PRSSA Leadership Assembly in Seattle, Wash. Leadership Assembly is a national professional development opportunity for upcoming PRSSA leaders. Many leadership training sessions, national assembly meetings and networking events were offered to help prepare aspiring PRSSA leaders to take their chapters to the next level.
Nunez was able to attend the leadership assembly for a second time, re-connect with fellow PRSSA friends and had the opportunity to hear about the new Microsoft AI platform.
“At this assembly we heard from Elaine Chang, a technical advisor at Microsoft and she introduced us to the new Microsoft AI platform called “copilot,” Nunez said. “Elaine explained that we need to learn how to use AI as a resource because it can save us so much time to focus on other things.”
In addition to learning about the latest technological tools, Mott and Nunez had many opportunities to build relationships with other PR students.
“My favorite part of attending these conferences is the friendships you build over just a few days,” Mott said. “Everyone who attends is so friendly and welcoming that it feels like a family.”
Looking to Get Involved? Consider PRSSA Executive Board
Pictured: UWO PRSSA Chapter Students
The UWO PRSSA chapter will be having executive board positions available for the 2024-2025 academic year. Becoming an executive board member offers a multitude of opportunities for students looking to become a leader within the PR industry as well as valuable professional development experiences.
Over the years, many students have commented their gratitude for holding an executive board position because of their chance to become an effective leader for the UWO chapter through planning and facilitating professional development activities for their members. Also, it gave them the opportunity to attend the PRSSA international conference (ICON) to expand their network, learn from PR professionals in the field and expand their knowledge of the PR industry.
“I am so grateful for all of the benefits PRSSA has given me as an executive board member,” Anna Lavigne, the vice president of events said. “Overall, the best benefit is the network you build through different PRSSA/PRSA members, speakers and agency tours. We are always building connections wherever we go and it’s great to know you have a network full of people in the same field as you!”
The UWO PRSSA chapter will be holding executive board elections on April 4, 2024. If you are interested or know of anyone who would make for an exceptional board member please complete the executive board online application form by March 15, 2024.
Being part of the UWO PRSSA chapter is an incredible experience that all students who are interested in pursuing a career in the PR industry should be a part of. It not only expands your professional network, but gives you the chance to take the knowledge learned within the classroom to real-life campaign experience. If you have any questions about becoming an executive board member please contact Jocelyn Nunez, the UWO PRSSA chapter president or Dr. Nicolini the UWO PRSSA advisor.
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