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The Semesterly

Spring 2026

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Welcome!

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I can't believe that this year and my time as Promotions Director is already coming to a close. Reflecting on this past year, I am so proud of all we have accomplished as an executive board. Being able to contribute and be a part of so many amazing events, initiatives and collaborations has been extremely rewarding. Thanks to our Meetings Director, Taylor, we had the privilege of hosting an incredible variety of speakers across a variety of different industries. Each general meeting brought new insights and advice to make us all better communications professionals and students. 

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One of the highlights of the semester was our annual Night with the PRos event, that this year was held in collaboration with Women in Business. The panel included 5 amazing, professionals from the field, who gave inspirational advice on starting in Communications and building your way up. Thank you Laila, our Director of External Affairs, for organizing such an amazing night and panel, as well as our Spring Field Trip to Marriott International.

 

I would also like to highlight other great events our chapter organized, including our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Panel and our Public Relations Society of America Mixer we held in collaboration with PRSA Delaware and PRSSA DSU. Gianna, thank you for organizing such an inspiring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion panel, that fostered meaningful conversations and emphasized the importance of these values within our profession. And Kaylee, thank you for finding so many amazing, new opportunities that help grow our chapter and our members as professionals!

Serving as the Promotions Director has been an enriching experience for me. I loved every moment spent creating and writing content for our chapter and helping keep members updated on our amazing events, outstanding achievements and everything in-between. My second year on the executive board was filled with growth, and inspiration from the amazing women who built up this year's executive board. I am so excited to see the future growth of our chapter. I have no doubt that the incoming executive board will build on this year's success and achieve amazing things. I can't wait to see what you all accomplish next! 

 

Good luck next year!

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Emma Schneider

Promotions Director, PRSSA University of Delaware

A Letter From The President

Hi all! I can’t believe it’s already graduation season and time to share my final message with PRSSA-UD. Being part of this community since my very first semester, and serving on the executive board as Meetings Director and President for the past three years, has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my college journey. Over 50 meetings and panels, 7 field trips, 6 involvement fairs, 3 ICON conferences, 1 regional conference, and 1 leadership assembly have shaped me into the leader and professional I am today. I am forever indebted to this organization for every fond memory, important lesson, lasting friendship, and professional connection it has given me.

 

This semester, our chapter set a new standard for excellence, raising the bar for both our internal and external operations. We received a charitable grant from the Blue Hen Investment Club for the second year in a row, thanks to Lucy Taylor’s initiative. We traveled to Marriott International Headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, for our annual spring field trip organized by Laila Broussard. We participated in high school outreach at Newark High School, leading students through a professional development workshop coordinated by Gianna Furth. We hosted guest speakers from leading organizations, including Comcast, MSL Global, and Driven Authentic Branding Solutions, thanks to Taylor Mitchell. Dr. Totzkay joined us for yet another successful Coffee with a Professor. We organized three panels: Night with the PRos, a DEI Panel, and a PRSSA-UD Alumni Panel. Catherine Corrado led two Skills Slams that provided members with key insights into networking and early career protocols.

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Additionally, Catherine and Laila represented the University of Delaware at the Leadership Assembly in New Orleans. Our student-run firm, Public Practice, expanded its responsibilities beyond social media management to include event planning, organizing a collaborative event for Oh So Cycle and Caffeneo. The social event committee hosted a fun craft night, the communications writing team contributed 15 blog posts to our website, and the new member committee led marketing efforts across campus. One of our proudest accomplishments this spring was building a strong relationship with DSU PRSSA, culminating in a joint networking mixer with our parent chapter, PRSA Delaware.

 

And to think, there’s still so much more ahead for PRSSA-UD! I am happily closing this chapter of my career knowing that this group is in excellent hands with our incoming President, Laila Broussard, and Vice President, Catherine Corrado. Together, they will welcome seven new faces to the executive board: Samantha Burns, Vanessa Flaherty, Alexandria Homan, Reanya Jackson, Kylie Marley, Annie Pettinato, and Karla Saldana-Hernandez. To my fellow graduating board members, Emma Schneider, Aubrey Hill, Allie Briggs, Taylor Mitchell, Lucy Taylor, and Gianna Furth, thank you for being an incredible group of women to work with and for your commitment to bettering this organization. Your impact on this chapter will be everlasting.

 

PRSSA-UD, I hope you all have an incredible summer break! Bring the knowledge and experiences you gain from your internships, jobs, travels, and side quests back to campus in the fall, so you can all continue learning from one another. I’ll be rooting for this chapter’s success forever and always.

 

Signing out,

Kaylee Louima

President, PRSSA University of Delaware

Our Executive Board 2025-2026

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Kaylee Louima

President

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Aubrey Hill

Vice President

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Emma Schneider

Promotions Director

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Laila Broussard

Director of External Affairs

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Taylor Mitchell

Meetings Director

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Lucy Taylor

Finance Director

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Catherine Corrado

Director of Internal Professional Development

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Allie Briggs

Director of Member Communication

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Gianna Furth

Director of Community Engagement

We are SO excited to announce next year's

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Laila Broussard
President
Laila is a senior communication major in the public relations concentration with a double minor in political communication and journalism. She ran for this position because she truly believes that what you put into PRSSA is what you get out of it. PRSSA has played a significant role in shaping her college experience and has pushed her toward incredible professional and leadership opportunities. Through her involvement on multiple executive boards, she has developed valuable skills and lessons in leadership, communication, event planning, and teamwork that she hopes to pass onto board members. She is especially passionate about mentoring students who may be serving on their first executive board. She wants to help them understand what makes an effective board member. By serving in this role, She hopes to continue strengthening our chapter while supporting the next generation of PRSSA leaders.

Following her term as Director of External Affairs, Laila is excited to see the board's love for PRSSA grow even more as they start to plan and start their responsibilities. One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is seeing members develop confidence in their abilities, bring new ideas to the table, and make meaningful contributions to the organization.

Executive Board 2026-2027

A Letter From Next Year's President

In 2024, I attended my first PRSSA meeting. Within that year, I signed up and attended field trips because I thought, Why not? I joined the 2025 Bateman Case Study Competition because, Why not? I ran for the 2025-2026 executive board because, Why not?

 

Not because I wasn’t intentional, but because I believe PRSSA is limitless. 

 

The moment you join PRSSA, you choose to be open to transformation. You choose to step outside your comfort zone, build new connections, and discover opportunities you may have never imagined for yourself. PRSSA rewards curiosity, ambition, and the willingness to say yes to new experiences.

 

I still remember attending my first PRSSA meeting. I sat toward the back of the room and didn’t know anyone. What began as a single meeting soon became one of the most impactful experiences of my college career. Through PRSSA, I found mentors, professional opportunities, lifelong friendships, and the confidence to pursue goals that once felt out of reach. 

 

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What I’ve learned is that one conversation can change everything. A simple hello at the Involvement Fair led me to join PRSSA. One meeting led to greater involvement. One opportunity led to leadership. Every door that opened began with a willingness to take a chance on myself. 

 

Today, I have the privilege of serving as 2026-2027 President of the University of Delaware PRSSA chapter, and I am committed to creating those same opportunities for others. Our chapter strives to connect students with professionals, strengthen their leadership skills, and prepare them for successful careers in public relations, communications, and beyond.

 

As we look ahead, I am excited to continue expanding our professional network, strengthening relationships with PR professionals and fellow chapters, and creating meaningful experiences that help our members grow both personally and professionally.

 

PRSSA is more than an organization, it’s a launchpad. Whether you’re attending your first meeting, competing in Bateman, networking with industry leaders, or considering a leadership position, I encourage you to embrace every opportunity that comes your way.

 

After all, why not?

 

I am looking forward to seeing where your PRSSA journey takes you and the new heights we will reach

 

Looking forward,

Laila Broussard

2026-2027 President of PRSSA-UD 

Congratulations to Our Seniors!

Thank you for a great year!

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Kaylee Louima

From Meetings Director to President, serving on PRSSA-UD’s executive board for the past three years has been one of the highlights of my college experience. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching hard work produce fruitful results, and I’ve seen my efforts positively impact our members, other UD RSOs, neighboring PRSSA chapters, and the Newark community. As Meetings Director, I acquired top industry professionals as guest speakers, from Poppi to MakeupbyMario, resulting in a 67% boost in audience attendance.

As President, I modeled the standards I expected from others, offering to support each board member in any capacity. No task was beneath me. This collaborative mindset led to national accolades and chapter elevation. Thank you to all of the teams I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years, especially this year’s executive board! I cherish every goal completed and fun bonding experience that resulted from our time together. I’m confident that the technical and leadership skills I gained from my time here will carry me into this new chapter post-grad. PRSSA-UD is a special community and I’m forever grateful for the chance to leave my mark on it.

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Aubrey Hill

Being a part of PRSSA has been the most formative experience of the past four years. As a freshman I had no idea what I wanted to do and PRSSA helped me find my passion. Starting off as the promotions director I got to hone in on my social media skills which will help immensely in my future career. This past year as the VP I enhanced my leadership skills and got to play a big role in the successes of our chapter. I want to thank everyone on the E-board that I had the chance to work with, you made my experience here so amazing! Being a part of PRSSA is something that I will cherish forever and I can’t wait until it’s my turn to give back.

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Emma Schneider

Being part of PRSSA-UD has been an amazing experience! From my very first meeting, I knew I wanted to be more involved in PRSSA. From my junior year as Meetings Director and bringing professionals from Sephora, Ralph Lauren, HUNTER and Weber Shandwick to  to now running the Instagram and website as Promotions Director and generating at times over 30,000 views each week, I have gained so many skills in networking, communications, social media and content creation. PRSSA-UD has given me so much, including my best friends and roommates, and I can't imagine what my college experience would look like without this organization! 

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Lucy Taylor

Serving as the Director of Finance this past year has been an extremely informative and meaningful experience. Overseeing the chapter's finances and budget allowed me to strengthen my organizational and critical thinking skills. From budgeting for the ICON Conference, field trips, meeting materials, and chapter events, I learned how to think strategically about our resources to support our goals and the future growth of the chapter. It was rewarding to see the chapter's members take advantage of the events and meetings. I developed a greater understanding of financial planning and the importance of collaboration. I am incredibly thankful for my fellow executive board members. I will always be grateful for PRSSA and the friendships and experiences it has brought me.

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Allie Briggs

I was so grateful to be this years Director of Member Communications! I loved being able to connect with all of our members and provide seamless updates and consistent communication across all channels to ensure our members receive all of our benefits and can invest their time and build their skills on what really matters to them in PR. Giving updates on what our organization was up to through emails made me feel so proud to showcase all that PRSSA-UD has done. I also loved being able to film unique Fresh Off The PRess videos after our guest speaker events where I could provide insightful advice I learned from our speakers as creating these videos has allowed me to approach these speaker events with a different perspective. PRSSA has seriously helped advance my career and professional and personal development journey in so many ways and I could not be more thankful to go through it with the most amazing executive board! Big thank you to all of our amazing members, we couldn’t have done it with out you, and shoutout to Aubrey and Emma, my Comm girls since Day 1!! Forever grateful for PRSSA-UD!

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Taylor Mitchell

Serving as Meetings Director for PRSSA-UD my senior year has been an absolute privilege. This role allowed me to expand my network, build meaningful professional relationships, and organize meetings that helped members grow their careers in public relations. Nothing has been more rewarding than hearing that members connected with our guest speakers beyond the meetings themselves and continued building those relationships. Aside from Meetings Director, PRSSA has transformed my career and college experience. From attending field trips, skills slams, networking sessions, ICON in D.C. and so much more, I am so grateful for the endless opportunities PRSSA-UD gave me. I want to thank this amazing organization and my fellow executive board members who made this year so amazing. I am forever grateful and cannot wait to see this chapter thrive in the future!

 

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Gianna Furth

Having the incredible opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organization at UD has changed my life, and I would do it a million times over! Being the first person to serve in the position of Director of Community Engagement gave me the opportunity to connect with so many different people while challenging myself in areas such as time management, outreach, and organizational skills. I am so grateful to every PRSSA member who participated in the committee programs and contributed their hard work. Their dedication allowed us to create a strong foundation for the committees to continue and thrive for many years to come. My absolute favorite PRSSA memory was attending ICON in Washington, D.C., with all of the executive board members. I loved working alongside them, and I know that I have gained lifelong friends and valuable professional connections through this experience. PRSSA is not just an organization to me—it has been a pathway to my career and to relationships that will last a lifetime.

Our Field Trip to Marriott International!

Thank you to Laila, our Director of External Affairs, for arranging such an amazing field trip to Marriott International. Her efforts made the experience incredibly enriching and provided us with valuable insights into the hospitality side of the industry. The trip was a fantastic opportunity to see the inner workings of a leading hospitality company and to connect with professionals in the field. Thank you, Laila, for your dedication and hard work in making this happen!
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2026 PRSSA Leadership Assembly

From April 10-12, Laila Broussard and Catherine Corrado attended the 2026 PRSSA Leadership Assembly in New Orleans, LA, where student leaders from across the world gathered for a weekend of learning and collaboration. The event featured engaging seminars, voting on bylaw amendments, and valuable chapter development tips. During their free time, they had the chance to explore the city, network and connecting with fellow Delawareans from PRSSA DSU! It was an inspiring weekend filled with insights, connections, and unforgettable experiences.

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PRSA DE Mixer

For the first time ever, we were part of planning and attended a PRSA Delaware Mixer and Networking Night! The night was a great opportunity to connect with PRSA Delaware professionals, PRSSA DSU students, and connect as a group. During the event, there was also a senior recognition for all of PRSSA-UD graduating seniors and for PRSSA DSU graduating seniors! We are so grateful for opportunities like this one to connect with professionals, professors and students across the state. 

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Public PRactice

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Public PRactice is a micro-internship experience led by our Director of Internal Professional Development for our dues-paying members to develop real-world experience in social media and content creation. PRSSA has partnered with local businesses in Newark, and this year strengthened our relationship with Oh-So Cycle. Shout out to Catherine Corrado for leading this initiative! 

 

Congratulations to our Public PRactice team this year, who worked with Oh-So Cycle, and hosted our first collaborative event with them!

Tiffany Wilson

We were excited to welcome Tiffany Wilson, Associate Vice President of Digital and Social Communications, for our first speaker meeting of the semester. We learned so much from her  about her career journey, crisis communications and what you should be doing to get your dream job! She gave us insights to crisis communication at national companies and shared stories of her time with Walmart and Comcast. We are grateful for her advice and the inspiration she provided to our members.

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General Meeting Recaps

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Panel

A huge thank you to Gianna, our Director of Community Engagement, for orchestrating such an incredible DEI Panel! Gianna'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 learned so much about our guest speakers involvement in DEI and activism, and how we can incorporate DEI into our practices. Thank you, Gianna, for your hard work and dedication that went into this amazing event!

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“Planning and moderating this panel was such an amazing experience! I have never done something like this before, and it allowed me to meet professionals in the workforce, gain a greater understanding of communities in organizational settings, and put my public speaking skills to work. Our panelists did a great job explaining their experiences working with different organizations, how to find your community, why representation matters, how our industry is expanding and changing, and why it is so important to be your true and authentic self during interviews and professional interactions.” - Gianna Furth

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Night With The PRos

We were thrilled to welcome our five amazing panelists: Beth Toll, Ayanna Haynie, Olivia Brinton, Caroline Quattro, and Stephanie Zoppina to our annual Night with the PRos Event! This amazing evening was an enriching experience for all who attended and featured panelists from a variety of industries, from fashion to transportation. Our panelists gave valuable insights into the world of public relations—from career journeys and industry highlights to personal experiences shared by our talented panelists. We're so grateful to everyone who made this event a success, especially our Director of External Affairs, Laila Broussard, and her collaboration with Women in Business!

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Skill Slams

Catherine Corrado, our Director of Internal Professional Development, hosted two engaging skill slams this semester. She started off the semester teaching us all things networking. She went through not only connecting through LinkedIn and building a network, but keeping connected with your current network. During this skill slam, she had everyone find someone to connect to! For her second skill slam she titled it "Offer Accepted, Building Before I Begin". She walked us through what to do after accepting an internship or job offer and putting your best foot forward in your new workplace. This Skill Slam was inspired by our PRSA DE Mixer! 

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Thank you for a great semester!

Until next Fall...

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