2019 District Conferences

"It Is Your Crisis Conference"

Georgia Southern University
February 1–2, 2019
Statesboro, Georgia
Regional Conference Coordinator: Shelby Trevathan

This conference focuses on crisis communication and the future of public relations. We will need to equip students with skills to effectively control and mitigate conflict that may arise for clients or brands. Speaker topics will include handling clients throughout a crisis, messaging, social media, media contact during crises, and stakeholder communications.

"PReboot"

Pennsylvania State University
February 8–9, 2019
State College, Pennsylvania
Regional Conference Coordinator: Elissa Hil

As the technology industry expands to encompass nearly every minute of our day-to-day lives, understanding how public relations fits in is vital to the future of our profession. PReboot how you think about your career by exploring the emerging technologies you’ll employ as a future professional. From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, learn what it’s like to work in the technology sector and the skills you’ll need to prepare.

"PR Advanced: Find Your Voice"

Boston University
February 22–23, 2019
Boston, Massachusetts
Regional Conference Coordinator: Wenyi Jian

Knowing when brands and individuals should – and should not – stand out in the current social, political and economic situation is essential to today’s public relations. This conference will show you how, with the right voice delivered via the right medium, at the right time, organizations can craft the right messages for its audiences effectively, stay true to its brand essence and meet its objectives with a profound impact.

"PRedict the Future"

DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago and Columbia College Chicago

March 1–2, 2019
Chicago, Illinois
Regional Conference Coordinators: Andrew Willett, Kendall Herbert and Kallie Kouvelis

PRedict the Future will be an awe-inspiring weekend for the brightest students in PRSSA who are driven to be leaders of the PR industry. Students will take their talents to the heart of Chicago- home of Columbia College of Chicago, DePaul University, and Loyola University Chicago. These three schools are coming together for a feat that is the first of its kind: a Regional Conference dedicating to the three most timely pillars of the PR industry. Diversity. Ethics. Globalization.

"Forge Your Future"

Point Park University
March 22, 2019
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Regional Conference Coordinator: Morgan McCoy

The intersection of business, marketing and communications is now. With the ever-changing media landscape and the challenges it presents to the commerce leaders of tomorrow, a strong foundation is necessary for success. Forge Your Future, a student conference presented by Point Park University PRSSA/AdFed, seeks to answer questions students have about emerging trends, best practices and how to become valuable members of tomorrow’s workforce.

"Being A Full Service Pro"

Temple University
March 22–23, 2019
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Regional Conference Coordinator: Brianna Greco

The public relations industry is evolving rapidly. The lines between public relations, advertising, and marketing are dissolving to create a more diverse work environment. This conference will explore the ever-changing landscape of full service agencies and in-house PR departments. Professionals from the field will share how they are adapting and integrating new tactics to provide clients with a full service experience.

"Wired and Wonderful: The Reach of Digital Storytelling"

West Virginia University
March 28–31, 2019
Morgantown, West Virginia
Regional Conference Coordinator: Emily Zekonis

Wired and Wonderful: The Reach of Digital Storytelling celebrates the importance of utilizing IMC to create a brand narrative. West Virginia is known for being ‘Wild and Wonderful,’ and pushes professionals to work beyond typical media to bring messages across the nation. Attendees will learn digital storytelling methods from current successful digital programs, network and gain advice from digital leaders, advance their career at the “post-grad” fair and gain experience with emerging digital technology.

"PR is a Breeze in the City of Trees"

California State University at Sacramento
March 29–31, 2019
Sacramento, California
Regional Conference Coordinators: Jennie-Marie Britton and Jacqueline Barraza

The root of the tree represents the relationships, connections and mentors that students meet along the way, which leads to a strong and healthy career within the field — the trunk. The branches represent each opportunity that is given to us, while the leaves are our contributions and skills that professionals give back to the community. The leaves fall and are integrated back into the soil, which in turn helps other trees to grow.

"Through the Eyes of PR"

University of Texas at Austin
March 29–31, 2019
Austin, Texas
Regional Conference Coordinators: Shannon Switzer and Allison Koontz

Through the Eyes of PR will focus on assisting students in all fields master their personal brand identity, diversify their assets, and pinpoint the focus of their craft. This conference will prioritize the need for a dynamic and holistic viewpoint in this industry and allow participants to visualize their role within it. This conference will provide a lens to fully view and absorb the diverse, critical components of success in a public relations world.