Introducing the 2020-2021 Publications Subcommittee
One aspect of PRSSA that members enjoy is increased opportunities for leadership and involvement at the National level. One of those opportunities is participating in subcommittees. Members of the Publications Subcommittee have the opportunity to recruit for submissions and submit to Progressions, the official blog of PRSSA.
As an alumnus of the 2019–2020 Publications Subcommittee, I know how important serving on a subcommittee is, as it has led to me serving on the PRSSA National Committee as your vice president of brand engagement. It is my pleasure to formally introduce the 2020–2021 Publications Subcommittee to you all. These talented student leaders are here to serve you. Please use them as a resource and share your thoughts, questions, and ideas with them.
Christina Billie: Temple University
My PRSSA journey began in the Spring of 2018, my freshman year. I didn’t know what public relations was at that point or what I could do with it as a career. As I went to meetings every week, I started to understand what PR was. I was also able to gain so much experience. PRSSA to me is just that: getting hands on experience. Members get to meet more of their peers who eventually become family. Professionals in the field share their experiences with them. There are agency tours to go to. There are workshops to learn more about the field. It teaches members valuable things that they wouldn’t get in the classroom. Now, as a junior and the Secretary of the Temple University Chapter of PRSSA, I hope to share this experience with fellow members. I hope that through sharing my experience, other students understand that anything is possible with some hard work and determination. I also hope this gives other students motivation to write articles and blog posts so they could be a part of the committee in the future!
Nana Ama Obenewaa Akoto-Boateng: Andrews University
Being of African descent, it’s such a great privilege to be a part of this distinguished student community. PRSSA is truly an epitome of an impactful community to associate with, as a growing PR and communications professional. Through the power of PR, I hope to create positive change among the student community and the world as a whole with the unique stories I share. I am proud to be adding to the depth of knowledge and skills within this Society, and in so doing, improve myself professionally and personally. Cheers to the amazing friendships and diverse connections to be established on this great subcommittee!
Feel free to connect with Ama on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Mauricio Lira: Texas Tech University
Before the 2019–2020 school year, my university did not have a PRSSA Chapter. My friends and I saw the outstanding opportunities we and the rest of the student body were missing. With the help of a few faculty members, we submitted our application to form a Chapter. In our first semester, we recruited over 100 members, which led to the Chapter winning the small-chapter division of the Join PRSSA Membership Contest. To me, being part of PRSSA means hard work and dedication to achieve one’s goals, but it is also a community that fosters growth professionally and personally. Recently, a discussion on diversity and inclusion within the industry has risen. Through my position, I hope to further the conversation on the efforts agencies and corporations are taking on this issue and help diverse-student talent navigate the communications field.
Dieter Tirado Núñez: Universidad de San Martín de Porres
PRSSA is an opportunity for us, as future PR pros, to get to know our career. It gives you the tools and benefits necessary for your professional growth. In these three years that I have been with PRSSA, I have been able to meet great people from my Chapter and internationally as well. Attending conferences, seminars and meetings are the most pleasant memories that I have of this wonderful group.
Now, the Publications Subcommittee has the responsibility to bring all the great ideas that PRSSA members have to tell the world. It is great to share experiences, articles and different materials that will help us know how PRSSA continues expanding nationwide.. We are ready to serve you!
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PRSSA is a special organization to be a part of. It brings together students from different parts of the world and all walks of life in pursuit of bettering the public relations profession.
For me, the PRSSA experience reflects this: empowering all students to launch their careers and explore their passions. I’ve been fortunate to meet so many amazing students and professionals throughout my PRSSA journey and I am truly blessed for the experiences PRSSA has granted me. This organization has allowed me to explore my passion for the gaming industry, meet like-minded students, open my mind to diverse perspectives and careers, and perhaps most importantly, give back to PRSSA students and future professionals. I hope to use my platform as vice president of brand engagement to empower PRSSA students to chase their passions and better the industry as a result. Feel free to use me as a resource. I am here to serve you and hope to share the PRSSA experience with you all. Let’s make this PRSSA year the best one yet.
Zach Ferenchak, 2020–2021 vice president of brand engagement, is a senior at Capital University, a private university in Columbus, Ohio. He is majoring in emerging media with an emphasis in public relations and minors in journalism and marketing. In his free time, Ferenchak can be found obsessing over the latest gadget or video game, exploring a coffee shop with friends, or going on a trail run. He hopes to use his position to elevate the diverse voices of all PRSSA members. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.
