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NEW YORK CITY – The was featured on the Nasdaq Billboard in Times Square during their annual educational tour of New York City’s public relations firms. From sunrise to sunset on Dec. 2, the students toured countless firms in the Big Apple and spoke with �鶹ɫ��Ƭ alumni to gain insights into the real world of public relations.

PRSSA, the student-run public relations club on campus, collaborates yearly to organize and execute this trip. This year, 30 students, along with Professor of Public Relations Amiee Shelton, attended firm tours across the city. 

was just one of the many firms visited by students, but it became one of the most memorable. Alumna Sarah Decker ’20, who works in investor relations, spoke about her role at Nasdaq and showed students how public relations is represented in the financial and business world. She gave the students a big welcome by displaying the �鶹ɫ��Ƭ PRSSA logo on the 10,000-square-foot Nasdaq Billboard, concluding the tour with an experience they’ll always remember.

Students then made their way to , where they got a firsthand look at what it’s like to work in the entertainment industry. Account executive and �鶹ɫ��Ƭ alumna Linsdey Faig ’15 spoke about her experience managing countless clients and navigating the quick-paced industry. She emphasized the importance of creativity and communication while also maintaining a work life balance.

Students also visited the (EPA) and , where they learned more about the industry from a public relations agency point of view. Here, students were able to compare communications goals from a public relations firm to a government agency.

Lastly, they visited alumnus Michael Hollander ’08 at , where he spoke about how crucial communication is within a large global tech company. Students asked questions and gained insight from his experiences collaborating within and navigating a rapidly changing tech industry to achieve worldwide success.

Aiden Blatter, junior Public Relations major and PRSSA President from Rochester, N.Y., described the experience as an inspirational day for students and alumni to connect.

“Our PR Alumni are really what make this trip special. Our alumni’s willingness to share their career insights – whether they’re challenges, wins, or just day-to-day life – allows us to better understand what we are looking for in our own future public relations careers,” Blatter said. “We are incredibly grateful for their time and dedication to �鶹ɫ��Ƭ’s Public Relations program, as this is just one way our powerful alumni give back for our student success.”

The student-learning on this annual trip goes beyond meeting industry professionals. It’s an opportunity to be exposed to diverse work environments, from global businesses to small firms, which helps students understand where their interests lie. According to Shelton, the trip builds on the core values of �鶹ɫ��Ƭ’s PR Program: strategic communication, networking, and real-world experiences, and continues to be an influential moment for students to explore career paths, and gain real world insight to the public relations industry.