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Spring 2015 | Vol. 47, Issue 3 | www.prssa.org/FORUM
Meet the 2015–2016
National Committee
LAURA DARONATSY
National President
JOSH GORDON
School: Biola University
HEATHER HARDER
Learn from Leadership Rally
The annual PRSSA Leadership
Rally offers Chapter presidents
complimentary leadership training and networking with fellow
Society leaders. This year’s
Leadership Rally will be in sunny
Scottsdale, Arizona, May 29–31.
If that isn’t enough motivation to
attend, PRSSA covers hotel and
registration. All you have to do is
get there.
As a PRSSA member, you have
access to some of the best public
relations publications. Use your
time off from school to read a
few issues of Public Relations
Tactics, which can be accessed
via your MyPRSA login. And
don’t forget about catching up on
Progressions articles, which are
still published through the summer months.
SARAH JOHNSON
VICTORIA LEWIS
Vice President of Advocacy
Fun Fact: I love to travel. Growing up, I got to live
in six cities, one overseas country (Bahrain), 10
houses and attended seven different schools.
Most looking forward to: The people! Whether
face-to-face or via Skype or email, I want to get
to know and connect with both my fellow Committee members and as many PRSSA students
as I can.
NOLAN MILES
School: Belmont University
Fun Fact: I have a passion for design and I originally pursued a major in architecture.
Most looking forward to: Working closely with
PRSA to develop Diversity and Ethics Months.
I hope to cultivate more Chapter engagement
with these National Initiatives.
Vice President of Career Services
Vice President of Public Relations
School: Western Kentucky University
Fun Fact: I’m classically trained in Opera.
VERONICA MINGRONE
Vice President of Professional Development
School: University of Oklahoma
Most looking forward to: Increasing interactions
and engagement between PRSSA and PRSA
New Pros.
Most looking forward to: Expanding on the
integrated media methods that FORUM and
Progressions already utilize and developing
connections among PRSSA members on an
international scale.
JENN SHAFER
Vice President of Regional Conferences
School: University of Florida
School: The Ohio State University
Most looking forward to: Widening our selection of internships — especially geographically.
Most looking forward to: Connecting Regional
Conferences and implementing training. I am
hoping to get more people involved and cultivate
PRSA involvement.
Fun Fact: I’m a huge dessert foodie and make
it a point to check out local bakeries
whenever I travel.
GARY BRIDGENS
Vice President of Chapter Deveopment
Fun Fact: My favorite Scentsy scent is skinny-dipping — don’t let the name fool you, it’s amazing.
EMMA FINKBEINER
Publications Editor in Chief
School: Ohio University
School: Northern Michigan University
Most looking forward to: Being able to connect
personally with PRSSA Chapters. Together, we
can make this one of the best years PRSSA has
ever seen! Also, I’m excited to implement the
new Leadership Transition Guide.
Most looking forward to: Giving other members
the experience of writing and being published
in a national publication.
Fun Fact: I’ve been on four continents in one
day of travel!
Plan for a successful year
Read the latest news
and trends
Immediate Past President
Fun Fact: I can tap dance.
Other members can benefit from
Rally by requesting to receive the
notes from their Chapter president
and by following the #PRSSALR
hashtag during the event.
Use the summer months wisely.
Brainstorm ideas with your fellow
executive board members during
the break, and continue posting
content to your social media channels. If you didn’t have a chance
to set goals before the end of the
school year, organize a conference call or a meeting with your
e-board. By setting the Chapter
up for success during the summer,
you will be better equipped to
keep members actively engaged
during the school year.
Most looking forward to: I look forward to
meeting inspiring college students from all
across the country. It’s the people that make this
profession so special.
School: Elon University (class of ‘14)
Engage in your local
public relations community
Register for a PRSA meeting or
volunteer to help during a PRSA
event. In addition to networking
with PRSA, search LinkedIn for
fellow PRSSA interns in your
city, and make plans to meet up.
If you don’t have an internship,
see if you can volunteer to help
a nonprofit or job shadow a few
PRSA members. A great place to
look for potential professionals to
shadow is in the Champions for
PRSSA directory.
Fun Fact: I am an avid ultimate Frisbee player
and fan.
Most looking forward to: Visiting and Skyping
into Chapter meetings! That was definitely a
huge highlight of my current term on National
Committee.
BY HEATHER PRSSA 2014–2015
HARDER National President
By now, school may be out of
session for most of you, but that
doesn’t mean you have to stop
learning. Here are a few ways to
maximize your PRSSA involvement over the summer:
School: Liberty University
Fun Fact: Every time I go to the airport, I have
to get an Auntie Anne’s pretzel. They’re my
absolute favorite.
Summer Planning
Starts Now
Vice President of Member Services
Fun Fact: I love reading hard copy newspapers
and magazines. They are piled up all over my
apartment.
Casting Votes for the Future of the Society:
PRSSA 2015 National Assembly
The room was filled with
excitement and confidence for
the unfolding of the new leaders
every Chapter delegate had a hand
in selecting.
BY SHAILI AHL
California State University,
Northridge
The PRSSA National Committee serves a network of more
than 11,000 college students and
is dedicated to meeting the needs
of 340 plus Chapters across the
nation and abroad. The huge
responsibility of leading the
Society starts with the election
during perhaps the most important national event of H YX\