The Semesterly
Spring 2024
Welcome!
It's hard to believe the year is over and my time as the Promotions Director is coming to an end. Reflecting on this past semester, I am excited about all that we have accomplished together. Thanks to Kaylee, we had the privilege of hosting incredible guest speakers, including Adam Silverstein, Andrew Staub, Sonni Rothstadt, and Bridget Paverd. Each of these professionals shared invaluable insights into the PR industry, providing us with knowledge and inspiration that will undoubtedly shape our future careers.
One of the highlights of the semester was our unforgettable field trip to Comcast, where we got a behind-the-scenes look at a leading company in our field. This experience was both educational and motivating, allowing us to envision our own potential career paths. Thank you Brooke for organizing such an amazing experience. I would also like to thank Jess for organizing such an inspiring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion panel, that fostered meaningful conversations and emphasized the importance of these values within our profession.
Serving as the Promotions Director has been an extraordinary opportunity for me. I have cherished every moment spent creating original content and keeping everyone informed about the exciting events and developments happening within our chapter. This role has allowed me to improve my skills in social media management, content creation, and strategic communication, all while working alongside a fantastic team of dedicated individuals.
I am excited for the future of our chapter, and I have no doubt that the incoming team will continue to build on our successes and achieve even greater heights. Thank you to this year's E-Board all for your support and collaboration throughout this year.
Good luck next year!
Aby
Promotions Director, PRSSA University of Delaware
A Letter From The President
Spring 2024 has been one of the most impactful semesters that PRSSA-UD has seen in years. Each member has put their all into personal and professional development, and as a whole that has greatly strengthened our chapter. The collaboration between members is an outstanding representation of how we have grown together to achieve outstanding accomplishments.
Looking back, this semester is measured by over 30 new active members. Together we welcomed four incredible guest speakers, continued work within our student run firm, held two skill slams, one fundraiser, an exceptional field trip, two unforgettable panels, and a record breaking election for next year's executive board. Through these events and beyond, I was able to see each member grow step by step, getting closer and closer to their pre-professional goals. It has been so extremely impactful seeing the success of our chapter through the hard work and collaboration of each member. The pride I feel can be easily seen through our accomplishments and the individual success of each member.
I specifically want to highlight the class of 2024, whose light will be remembered in our chapter for years to come. Just within our executive board, Abigail Romain, Jillian Melendez, Jessica Gardner and Brooke Piniak have directed the success of this chapter alongside myself and the other board members. Jessica, our Vice President, has shown unbelievable success through her hard work and dedication to the chapter. Through her incomparable term, she funded our trip to the PRSSA National Conference in the fall, and held our first DEI panel in the Spring that was monumental for our chapter. Jessica is a force to be reckoned with and I have no doubt she will bring incredible things to the industry in her future endeavors. Abigail, our Promotions director, has completely reshaped the importance of our socials and branding. Her organizational skills, perseverance, and commitment to success has shown in our outstanding year on socials. She will be an incredible asset to anywhere she works in the future! Jillian has successfully worked to strengthen our student run firm for the future, as well as work to be an incredible resource to members through her skill slams and incredible determination for success. Through all of her participation, Jill puts her heart into all she does and will be a success in anything she accomplishes. Finally, Brooke has had an impact on our chapter through her unmatchable field trip, mentor-mentee, and panel planning. These three events were monumental to our chapter this year and Brooke went above and beyond for the success of all three. I am so lucky to have worked alongside these four incredible professionals and can not wait for their success in the future. Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
My term as president has taught me a plethora of skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I have personally grown in more ways than I can count, and PRSSA is to thank. Between my own team and members at UD as well as connections to PRSSA national, I am endlessly grateful for joining the organization when I did. Although I will be graduating a semester early, I am thrilled to continue my term as Co-preident in the fall with Kaylee Louima, current meetings coordinator and future PRSSA president. This will give ample opportunity to set the chapter up for endless success, and I can not wait to see what success Kaylee leads us to.
Twelve members applied to join our executive board next semester, and after careful deliberation we have selected an extremely strong team. Anna Gleason, Meghan Emmerling, Kaylee Louima and myself will continue to work on our board, and we welcome Aubrey Hill, Laura Santengelo, Emma Schneider, Grace Kearns, Grace Mullin and Brooke Cooney to the team. I am so excited to see what's next for our chapter.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the endless success of this semester. The chapter thrives when members are active, and you have all shown your commitment to the chapter as well as your own professional development. This summer will be a great way to relax, refresh, and gain experience through internships and jobs, and I wish each and every one of you the best.
Until next semester!
See you in the Fall,
Lindsay
President, PRSSA University of Delaware.
Our Executive Board 2023-2024
Lindsay Fister
President
Jessica Gardner
Vice President
Aby Romain
Promotions Director
Brooke Piniak
Director of External Affairs
Kaylee Louima
Meetings Coordinator
Megan Emmerling
Finance Director
Jill Melendez
Director of Internal Professional Development
Anna Gleason
Director of Member Communication
We are SO excited to announce next years
Kaylee Louima
President
Kaylee is a junior communication major in the public relations concentration with a double minor in fashion management and event management. She is originally from New York City. Along with the PRSSA, Kaylee is a UD Social Media Ambassador and a Diversity Enrichment Leader.
Following her term as Meetings Coordinator, Kaylee is eager to learn from and work with her co-President, Lindsay, as she steps into the role. Kaylee’s goal is to continue fostering the existing, uplifting community present within PRSSA-UD and provide more professional advancement opportunities for members.
Executive Board 2024-2025
A Letter From Next Years President
Serving on the PRSSA-UD board this year has been one of my greatest joys! From attending ICON in Nashville to visiting Comcast in Philadelphia, our chapter has reached new heights and I’m humbled by the opportunity to watch it from a front-row seat. As Meetings Coordinator, I had the pleasure of hosting some of our most engaging guest speakers to date. From Poppi to Rite Aid, the professionals’ expertise spanned across industries, enabling them to share endless wisdom with our members.
It has been incredibly fulfilling for me to watch members leave each meeting inspired— some even landing internships as a result of their attendance. I love playing a part in shaping future PR professional’s careers and will be able to do so in a greater capacity this upcoming year as President. I couldn’t be more excited to take on this position! Supported by the incredible current/incoming board who will help me navigate co-presidency as I gear up for the responsibility of fully stepping into my role in the spring, I am confident that this chapter’s future is bright! I am looking forward to another year of impact, growth, and excellence for PRSSA-UD!
Congradulations to Our Seniors!
Thank you for a great semester!
Aby Romain
I am extremely grateful for the rewarding experience of serving as the Promotions Director on the PRSSA UD executive board. Over the past year, I learned so much about social media management, from creating and managing accounts to developing engaging content. This role allowed me to use my creativity in new and exciting ways, crafting unique posts and designing visuals that resonated with our audience. Additionally, I gained invaluable experience in the field of public relations, learning more about effective communication and strategic planning. Working with such an awesome and dedicated team has been a privilege, and I am thankful for the friendships and connections I have made along the way. This position also provided a fantastic opportunity to meet and interact with amazing PR professionals at our general meetings, offering insights and advice that have been incredibly beneficial for my professional growth. Thank you to my friends Jill and Brooke for making this experience even more memorable, and I wish you guys the best! I can't wait to see what the chapter accomplishes next year and am confident that the future holds even greater achievements for PRSSA UD.
Jill Melendez
This past year, serving as the Internal Professional Development Chair on the executive board for PRSSA was a truly enriching experience. Attending the national ICON conference expanded my professional network and knowledge. Hosting skill slam workshops not only allowed me to collaborate closely with my team but also helped me connect meaningfully with PRSSA members. Lastly, coordinating the Public PRactice internships with small, local businesses was particularly rewarding as it bridged classroom learning with real-world applications. I deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of each executive member and am grateful for the positive feedback from our members. Sharing this journey with my friends Aby and Brooke, who also served on the executive board, made it even more memorable! I can’t wait to see where the new executive board takes the chapter!
Brooke Piniak
What an amazing semester for PRSSA University of Delaware! As the Director of External Affairs for our chapter, I found my experience to be very rewarding. For one, I had a great time planning the spring field trip. We had the pleasure of visiting Comcast Technology Center, in Philadelphia, where our members got an inside look into PR, creative consultation, and event management in a corporate setting. Freddy Braithwaite Watts, the Director of Comcast’s Town Hall, was so helpful and sweet! We were lucky enough to get an in-depth tour of the building and the Universal Sphere, amazing candid advice that we will take with us into our careers, and were able to attend the movie premiere of Fall Guy, which was a blast! This experience was nothing short of enriching and I’m so proud that I was apart of planning it.
Jessica Gardner
Being on the PRSSA executive board has opened so many doors for me and helped me to understand our organization’s national impact. I’m grateful for all that I’ve been able to learn from serving as Promotions Director and Vice President of External Affairs. I hope that PRSSA-UD continues to thrive long after my graduation and I’m excited to see what next’s years executive board will do, the organization is in wonderful hands!
Our Field Trip to Comcast
Thank you to Brooke, our Director of External Affairs, for arranging such an amazing field trip to Comcast. Her efforts made the experience incredibly enriching and provided us with invaluable insights into the industry. The trip was a fantastic opportunity to see the inner workings of a leading company and to connect with professionals in the field. Thank you, Brooke, for your dedication and hard work in making this happen!
Public PRactice
Public PRactice offers an excellent opportunity for PRSSA-UD members to gain valuable work experience.
Recognizing the challenge of securing a first internship, PRSSA has partnered with local businesses
in Newark to create internships focused on social media management.
A big shoutout to Jill Melendez, our Director of Internal Professional Development,
for overseeing these internships and establishing new business partnerships this semester!
Adam Silverstein
Adam Silverstein, Head of Media Relations and Thought Leadership at Scient Public Relations. Shared his insightful career journey post-UD! Adam emphasized the power of internships in securing his first job and discussed strategies for navigating job changes and fostering professional growth. He left us with five invaluable tips: start at a large agency, be a voracious reader and consumer of news, write in every medium you can, think and create visually, and cultivate a desire to learn about diverse opportunities. We are grateful for his advice and the inspiration he provided to our members.
General Meeting Recaps
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Panel
A huge thank you to Jess, our Vice President, for orchestrating such an incredible DEI Panel! Jess's dedication and hard work were evident in every aspect of the event, from selecting diverse and insightful panelists to ensuring a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. We are grateful for Jess's efforts in providing our members with valuable learning experiences and opportunities. Thank you, Jess, for your outstanding work in making this event a success!
"Hosting PRSSA-UD’s virtual diversity, equity and inclusion panel was an inspiring experience and one of the most important things I’ve done in my career so far. It was amazing to have over 100 students join the zoom and I hope everyone was able to take away something meaningful from our conversation. I am so grateful to have had five excellent panelists: Tamarra Thal, Zane Landin, Mike Doyle, Sharice Hall and Emma Bruno join me for this event. I’m happy to have worked on an executive board that helped me to make this happen." - Jessica Gardner
Night With The PRos
We were thrilled to welcome our esteemed guests, Christopher DeMaria, Kelsey Guell, and Spiros Mantzavinos, to our "Night with the Pros" event. This exciting evening, organized by Brooke Piniak, our Director of External Affairs, was an enriching experience for all attendees. We gained valuable insights from these industry professionals and engaged in meaningful discussions about their career journeys and expertise. Thank you to Brooke for planning this exceptional event, and we are grateful for the knowledge shared by our distinguished speakers!
Skill Slams
Jill Melendez, our Director of Internal Professional Development, expertly guided us through the ins and outs of Canva, sharing valuable tips and tricks for creating visually appealing designs. Attendees had the chance to create their own LinkedIn banners, enhancing their professional online presence and leaving with a tangible skill they can use in their careers.
Jill also hosted a Dues Members Opportunity where participants crafted their own PR campaigns. This hands-on session provided a taste of what it’s like to develop a campaign from scratch, offering practical experience in a collaborative setting. Both events, organized by Jill, were a tremendous success and provided valuable learning experiences for everyone.
Thank you for a great semester!
Until next Fall...
