PRSSA Named Finalist in Ragan’s CSR & Diversity Awards for Mentorship Program with FINN Partners

The “Partners for Diversity: The Internship Preview” Program is
Dedicated to Serving PRSSA Students of Diverse Backgrounds

NEW YORK, June 15, 2022 – PRSSA, the foremost organization for students interested in the public relations and communications fields, was recently named a finalist in Ragan’s CSR & Diversity Awards. The awards recognize influential communications work making a positive difference and efforts making the world safer, healthier, more equitable and sustainable. The organization, alongside integrated marketing agency FINN Partners, earned a finalist spot in the Industry Partnership/Alliances category for its mentorship program – “Partners for Diversity: The Internship Preview” – which the two organizations first initiated in February 2021. Winners will be announced during an awards luncheon on July 14.

The Partners for Diversity program was a multi-day, virtual job shadowing and mentorship program hosted by FINN Partners and PRSSA to prepare students for communications careers. As part of both organizations ongoing commitments to addressing the lack of diversity in the profession, the program was dedicated to serving PRSSA students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and diverse backgrounds. In 2021, nearly 40 students were paired with professional mentors and during the week-long program, they had the opportunity to attend panels, participate in client meetings and campaign brainstorms, all while receiving valuable guidance from their mentors.

“Both PRSSA and FINN Partners are working to build a strong pipeline of diverse talent in the communications profession, and the Partners for Diversity program is a shining example of the larger impact we can make when we come together,” said Linda Thomas Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, PRSA. “The most rewarding part of this program has been witnessing the difference it has made in the lives of our PRSSA students, including many who have been hired by FINN Partners full-time.”

"Partners for Diversity: The Internship Preview has connected FINN with a diverse network of students and young professionals who are eager to learn and make their mark on the communications industry," said Helen Shelton, Global Chief Diversity Officer at FINN Partners. "FINN and PRSSA are honored to be nominated and look forward to continuing the efforts to support the next generation of diverse PR and marketing professionals."

Following the success of the program in 2021, FINN Partners and PRSSA once again hosted the Partners for Diversity mentorship program in 2022, opening it up to 75 students this year. At the conclusion of the program, FINN Partners encourages participating students to apply for future internship and job opportunities with the organization. Since beginning the program last year, a total of nine students have been hired by FINN Partners as interns, entry level professionals, or as part of its Excelerator program, a four-month, paid training program where recent college graduates can learn all the basic skills needed to land a full-time agency position.

About the Public Relations Student Society of America 
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Since 1968, PRSSA has served hundreds of thousands of student members, offering educational programs, resources, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities that prepare students for a successful career in communications. For nearly 50 years, the organization has hosted the Bateman Case Study Competition, which challenges student teams to implement a public relations campaign for an actual client. With nearly 375 Chapters globally, PRSSA is active on college and university campuses across the U.S., as well as Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.prssa.org.

###

Media Contact:
Vinica Weiss
(212) 460-1479
vinica.weiss@prsa.org