Media outreach, social media engagement and brand development are just a few of the workshops offered by the national professional society, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
PRSSA chapters exist all over the country, providing students with hands-on experience and vital connections in the public relations field. Specifically at Sacred Heart University, PRSSA works to help organizations spread their message.
“We work with on-campus and off-campus clubs to help with different needs and opportunities,” said faculty advisor Dr. Mark Congdon.
Last semester, in November 2024, Congdon won a Global Service-Learning Award for the United Hearts Initiative and received extensive resources, which he invested back into the program, making more opportunities available to members.
Also continuing this year is a program called Heart Fusion, a student-run public relations agency led by Congdon. Both Heart Fusion and PRSSA hold workshops to set students up for success when looking for full-time jobs or internships.
“This is what is going to help you land that job or internship,” said Congdon.
Source: Mark Congdon, Faculty Advisor of SHU PRSSA Chapter
While it is open to any student of any major, events are for members only. Public relations majors may be the most inclined, but PRSSA can benefit students going into numerous fields.
“I think that it’s not the first thing criminal justice majors think about joining, but they could definitely benefit from it,” said sophomore Melia Campbell. “You don’t even think about this kind of stuff as a non-public relations major until it is presented to you.”
Public relations plays a role in many different occupations, and students are encouraged to investigate how PRSSA can best serve them.
“Report writing is when we document our findings and provide professional forensic reports, similar to how someone in PR might write a press release, so I could use some help on my professional report writing skills,” said Campbell.
Meetings are bi-monthly and held both online and in-person, so they are accessible to everyone.
“While I personally dedicate most of my time to my nursing courses and Student Nurses Association, I think that for other nursing majors who are interested in advocating for public health and spreading awareness about their field, this would be a great opportunity for them,” said sophomore nursing student Francesca Sferlazza.
Members of PRSSA can benefit from gaining access to job postings and opportunities.
“Students have access to a job board where companies will post jobs and internships that prioritize students involved in this well-known society,” said Congdon.
Graduate students in the Master’s in Strategic Communications and Public Relations program are granted automatic membership, with annual reapplication applying to everyone.
“The fee to join is $55 annually, but like I always say, ‘the more you are involved, the more you get out of it,’” said Congdon.
For students like junior Grace Anderson, a Strategic Communications, Public Relations and Advertising major, PRSSA connects directly to her studies and correlates with what she learns in her courses.
“I’ve only heard good things about the program, and I think it would be helpful with connecting what I’ve learned in class to internships and jobs,” said Anderson.
Mentoring opportunities and scholarships provided by PRSSA exist to help students utilize their existing skills in a way that invests in their future.
“I would like to improve on my analysis skills when it comes to campaigns and media, and I know a lot of people who are PR and advertising majors that are looking for something just like this to make good connections,” said Anderson.
You can stop by PRSSA booths during their table times or visit their Instagram @sacredheart_prssa to learn more or express interest.
