June President’s Message
There are more than 1,100 PRSA members in Virginia, nearly 320 in the Richmond-area alone. Those professionals were once students—eager, nervous, green undergraduates. They needed advice and internships before they graduated. After leaving school and entering the professional world, they needed resources and mentors.
The PRSA National and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) provide many materials for students, but it’s the local chapters that provide opportunities for interaction with professionals.
PRSA chapters across the country sponsor numerous PRSSA chapters at universities and colleges in their area. PRSA members meet students for lunch, offer tours of their workplaces, conduct mock interviews and speak to classes. They also help graduates who join PRSA at the associate membership level find jobs in the field.
PRSA Richmond supports PRSSA chapters at Longwood University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia State University. In May, the board voted to take on another PRSSA chapter at James Madison University.
PRSA Richmond is thrilled to support the more than 100 PRSSA members at JMU. Our board members look forward to getting to know their board, members and the faculty advisors.
I want to thank everyone in advance because I know PRSA Richmond members will step up and offer this new group of students the same level of guidance and assistance they have offered pupils on campuses closer to the capital city.
This is an excellent opportunity for Richmond-area organizations to expand the pool from which they draw student interns. It also broadens the reach and exposure for PRSA Richmond while building a strong pipeline, ensuring our chapter’s success with future members and leaders.
If you would like to offer assistance to students, please contact PRSA Richmond Student Relations Chair Christina Dick at Christinamdick@gmail.com. If you have a special interest in working with JMU’s PRSSA chapter, I see a road trip in Christina’s future travel plans—she might even have an open seat for you to tag along!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Guild, APR
PRSA Richmond President
