PRSSA Names New President; PRSA Celebrates Pride

Ohio Northern’s Alyson Hoffman to Serve as PRSSA President

PRSSA has elected Alyson Hoffman as president. 

Hoffman, a public relations, communications and marketing triple major at Ohio Northern University, is now leading the group of student committee members who began their one-year term on June 1.

“I am honored to have been elected president of PRSSA, an organization that I am deeply passionate about,” Hoffman said. “Working with various Chapter and student leaders during my time as vice president of member services this last year has helped me better understand PRSSA and, as we move into this next term, I look forward to serving the Society and keeping the students’ best interest in mind.”

Applications Due for Leadership Assembly Delegate At-Large Positions

Applications are now being accepted for one PRSA 2023 Leadership Assembly delegate-at-large, two international delegates-at-large and one Canadian delegate.

These delegates represent members who are not in a Chapter area in the United States, Canada or outside North America. 

The delegates will hold one-year renewable terms, from Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2023. To serve in a delegate-at-large position, a candidate should be Accredited or have experience as a board member of a Chapter, District or Professional Interest Section. 

Interested members should complete the application and submit it to leadership@prsa.org by July 1.

Commemorating Pride Month

Throughout June, PRSA is offering a wide range of professional development and educational resources — all designed to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ population within and beyond the communications profession, as well as promote the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, acceptance and advocacy. These resources, gathered at the PRSA website, include webinars and other presentations, toolkits and editorial content. Follow @PRSA for more updates. 

University of Nebraska Takes 1st in Bateman Competition

The University of Nebraska took top honors in the 2022 Bateman Case Study Competition. 

Students were challenged to implement a campaign for the Lymphoma Research Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit devoted to eradicating lymphoma and serve those touched by the disease.

The University of Nebraska team created a campaign called “1 is Still 1,” designed to rally students together to change the narrative and raise awareness about lymphoma’s impact on the young adult population. 

By the end of the campaign, the number of University of Nebraska students who were aware of the Lymphoma Research Foundation increased by 22% and those who were aware that lymphoma is one of the most prevalent young adult cancers increased by 31%. 

PRSSA received 51 entries from colleges and universities across the nation. The top three finalists presented their campaigns virtually to a panel of judges composed of representatives from PRSA and the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

The University of Florida earned second followed by Brigham Young University in the third-place spot.

The Bateman Case Study Competition originated in 1973 as a national case study allowing PRSSA members to exercise the analytical skills required for PR problem solving. 

PRSSA Launches New Chapter at George Fox University 

George Fox University is the latest school to form a PRSSA Chapter. 

Located in Newberg, Ore., George Fox University joins the nearly 375 PRSSA Chapters across the United States as well as Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico. 

The communication major at George Fox University is housed under the Department of Communications and Cinematic Arts — students can select a concentration in public relations, organizational communication or human connection. 

PRSA Oregon is supporting the George Fox University Chapter, helping foster student and professional connections by providing speakers, networking opportunities and career mentoring. 

Dr. Amanda Staggenborg will serve as the Chapter’s faculty adviser.