Table of

Contents
Letter from the Editor...................................................................................02

Letter from the President............................................................................03

Meet the Executive Board............................................................................05

Spring 2021 Banquet....................................................................................07

Outstanding Member Awards.....................................................................08

The Democratization of Fashion.................................................................09

Financial Success this Semester..................................................................12

Everyone You Will Ever Meet Knows Something You Don't.....................14

PRSSA Conferences.......................................................................................16

Resume Tips & Tricks....................................................................................17

Financial Literacy Workshop........................................................................18

Strategic PR....................................................................................................19

Tips for Landing your Dream Job................................................................20

New Year New Pursuits................................................................................22

The Road to PRSSA........................................................................................24

Adventure Awaits our Members.................................................................26

Promote Your Yes.........................................................................................27

New Member Testimony..............................................................................28

Learning From the Best................................................................................29

How to Become a Networking Ninja...........................................................30

6 Steps to Becoming a Networking Ninja...................................................31

Meet our Advisors.........................................................................................32

Newsletter Team..........................................................................................33

Thank you......................................................................................................34
 new adventures
I began this semester with little idea of what it would have in store for me. After being a
letter from the editor

member of UNI PRSSA for only one semester, the position for Vice President of External
Communications on the Executive Board opened up and I applied. Being a new
member, I have had a lot of room to grow and my position has helped me do that. This
organization has given me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and gain
skills to prepare me for my future. Without joining PRSSA, I would have never gotten the
chance to expand my network or meet some of the amazing young professionals who
contributed to this publication.
Despite the fact that the semester has been full of unpredictable twists and turns, the
group has successfully held thirteen functions, including a kickoff meeting, three
socials, four professional development workshops, four meetings with public relations
experts, and an end of the semester banquet. We pulled our event theme for this
semester, “Adventure is Out There,” theme from the movie Up. This theme aligned with
the topics covered in our professional development workshops and by our experienced
PR professionals. The theme ended up being a great reflection of everything we have
done this semester, like implementing new fundraising tactics, coming out with a blog,
and increasing our membership numbers. Additionally, I had the opportunity to
publish a newsletter for the first time.

UNI’s PRSSA Chapter would be nothing without

its members and their dedication. We have
grown so much as a Chapter this semester and
seen so much growth in our individual
members. In this edition of the PRogressor, the
articles written by PRSSA members will cover
our 2021 Spring semester and everything we,
as a group, have learned and accomplished.
Enjoy!

Maddie Inman

2
letter from the President

signing off
Passion should be an important word for everyone. It certainly is to me. I strive to put
passion into every relationship, task, project, and activity of mine. As I reflect on this
past year, I would also like to use the word passion to describe those around me.
Entering a year with countless unknowns and new territories to uncover, fear
naturally formed in our members. But the passion and determination of the 2020-
2021 Executive Board pushed through to make the past 12 months memorable. This
year wouldn’t be nearly as successful without each member of the 2020-2021
Executive Board. The diverse backgrounds — and passions — helped to create new
opportunities and visions for PRSSA.

Shelby’s outgoing personality and creative eye helped to design a themed event
calendar that was published before each semester of classes. “Oh, The Places PR Can
Take You” kicked off our fall semester, introducing members to the world of careers
their public relations major can take them to. “Adventure is Out There” ended our
year by providing helpful opportunities to members for bettering their own selves
mentally and professionally to be prepared for a future career. Our
events are what the organization is all about, and Shelby clearly
made this year memorable.

Anna’s grit to raise funds for the Chapter through various

fundraisers, donations and sponsorships helped grow our annual
budget tremendously. Our department apparel T-shirt fundraiser in
the fall provided our Chapter with a profit of $117.20. Our second
annual Paint & Sip in February raised $246, allowing our dues-
paying members to receive a free ticket to a PRSSA District
Conference of their choice. Finally, we worked concession stands at
UNI athletic events and brought in $224.70. We also had two year-
long sponsors including Veridian Credit Union at our silver level and
Unite Credit Union at our gold level, as well as many businesses in
the community that donated gift certificates, items, or coupons that
we are thankful for. Overall, Anna helped the Chapter bring in
$1,407.90.

3
 Megan joined us in the middle of the fall semester when the position unexpectedly
opened up. She has incorporated her passion for PRSSA in seemingly every action she
does. I had the opportunity to get to know Megan last year as we were both on the 2019
-2020 Executive Board, so I was excited to work with her again this year. Her devotion to
the public relations industry has helped her become a resource for students wondering about
public relations and PRSSA. She helped to grow our dues-paying membership by 16 students this
year.

We welcomed Maddie to our board at semester. Transferring into UNI in the fall, she was a fresh set
of honest and positive eyes that helped us to uncover and understand new concepts about our
membership base. Her creative ideas were continually flowing, and she helped to create inclusive
campaigns on our social channels that showcase our unique members and the happenings of the
Chapter and its members.

Ona’s go-getter attitude made her a valuable asset to our entire Executive Board. She was
consistently available to help other Executive Board members with tasks and provide her passion
and talent for the public relations industry. She had solutions for problems and support for almost
any situation. Her leadership skills took her far in her position, allowing her to learn more about
other positions as she seeks to apply for the PRSSA Executive Board in her coming years.

See what I mean? These people are amazing, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone. To this
group of women, I wish you all the best as some of you enter your professional careers and others
continue to work on your education. I would also like to thank the students who make up our
membership base and who continue to support our Chapter throughout the year. Thank you all for
your time, your talents, your hearts, and, most of all, your passion.

Signing off as your 2020-2021 UNI PRSSA Chapter President,

Samantha Goodman

4
 Meet the
Executive Board

President VP of Events
Samantha Goodman Shelby Reicks

VP of Fundraising VP of Member Services

Anna Smolikhagen Megan Kramer

VP of External Communications VP of Internal Operations

Maddie Inman Onastacia Roe
5
 Spring 2021
Member Banquet
Monday, April 26 | 6-8 p.m.

To end our memorable semester full of adventures, UNI PRSSA hosted a banquet to celebrate our
members and everything we accomplished this semester. We celebrated with dinner in Maucker
Union's Ballroom, awards, and prizes for all of our members. The UNI PRSSA banquet wrapped up an
amazing semester and we are very excited to see what is in store for next semester!

xec Board
0-2021 E
202

2021-2022 Exec Bo
ard

6
Outstanding Member Awards
Riley Fridinger: Panther Award
for embodying a true UNI PRSSA member by attending events,
socializing with members, and taking advantage of the
opportunities the Chapter provides.

Maddie Davis: Most Involved

for dedicating her time and resources to better herself through
attendance at and participation in PRSSA's extensive opportunities.

Courtney Kauffman: Step-Up Award

for taking initiative in both the Chapter and firm, being involved,
taking tasks on, and being a representative of the Chapter.

Lakota Lackey: Difference Maker

for always seeking out what's best for the Chapter, and for having a
vision for the future and the betterment of the Chapter and its
members.

7
Jordyn Barragy: Team Player
for being selfless, sacrificial, and devoting her time to better the
Chapter and its members.

Onastacia Roe: Mountain Mover

for embodying a true UNI PRSSA member by attending events,
socializing with members, and taking advantage of the
opportunities the Chapter provides.

Michael Bohlmann: Emerging Member

for dedicating his time to the organization as a new member and
becoming as involved as possible as a first-year member.

Samantha Goodman: Outstanding Leader

for leading by example, putting the well-being of the Chapter and
members above all else, and using her talents and skills to turn our
Chapter into an organization built on integrity.

Anna SmolikHagen: Outstanding Service

for devoting her time and resources to increasing Chapter funds,
providing volunteer opportunities for members, and having a
creative mindset.

8
The Democratization of
fashion How Public Relations has Impacted the
Textiles and Apparel Industry

The democratization of fashion is credited industry, consumers are no longer passive

entirely to the digital sector of public relations recipients. Social media and virtual Fashion
in modern society. While many feared the Week has allowed for viewers’ awareness
emergence of virtual fashion shows during the and participation to increase within the
pandemic to be lackluster prior to viewing, fashion pipeline.
these fully virtual shows have positively
revolutionized the fashion industry. Virtual As Manish Chandra, Founder and CEO of
Fashion Week has developed the idea that Poshmark, noted, “Fashion is ripe for
fashion is more than garments; it is disruption...Because a lot of the
storytelling. ways things are done now -
Fashion-of-the-Week shows,
The videography of virtual
buyers, very powerful
Fashion Week continues to "Public relations efforts editors in major fashion
bring creativity and meaning
in every aspect. Viewers not
have allowed for capitals – These were
ways that trends were
only see just pieces of all fashion-forward disrupted, and they
clothing, but also a visual individuals to grow their weren’t very demo-
narrative. Thanks to the
public relations profess-
sense of personal style cratic. But the internet
and be inspired by brands democratizes everything.”
ionals within the fashion
industry, digital fashion shows that used to be
provide a deeper lens into each 'untouchable.'" When pondering on Menkes
brand and collection, but also to
iconic quote in The Circus
fashion as a whole.
of Fashion, “If fashion is for
everyone, is it fashion?” one must note
The lack of “dictatorship,” due to Fashion Week
that the purpose of fashion is to provide a
being easily accessible and inclusive to regular
creative form of self-expression, and all
viewers and consumers, has ultimately allowed for
individuals deserve this outlet.
the reaching of a wider and more diverse audience
for each brand. Prior to the development of the
Now, not only do consumers feel
digital runway, attendees of Fashion Week
comfortable expressing their style, but
exclusively consisted of an elite group of fashion
also their opinions and fashion agendas.
editors, collectors, buyers, and celebrities. These
Viewers now have a voice in the design
individuals were known as “gatekeepers.” Thanks to
and development of garments, compared
public relations professionals in the fashion

9
compared to the concept of industry-driven pre-
selected collections being strictly presented to
them. We see the pushing of social agendas in
production, such as advocating for plus-size
ranges or adaptive features in brand lines.
Digitally connected consumers have imposed an
intense, yet positive set of pressures on the
industry. The purpose of PR people in fashion is
to manage and cater to these expectations.
Without public relations, average people with an
extraordinary passion for fashion would never
experience runway. Models would strut the
catwalk in garments that viewers and
consumers cannot conceptualize and interpret.
Luxury brands would continue to cater to the
concept of one size and one style fits all. The
democratization of fashion through PR efforts
has disrupted the linear business model of
fashion in its entirety and has allowed for a
more inclusive and positive experience for all
consumers.
Onastacia Roe
A Word From
Belle DuChene
Social Media and Fast Fashion: A
Match Made in Heaven
I imagine that when social media and fast fashion
had their first date, they both deleted the app
before the entrée had even been plated.
Social media listed demands for immediate
gratification, to-the-second updates, and front row
access between bites of vegan sourdough bread.
Fast fashion, the older of the two, boastfully
clapped back access to next-day knockoffs and
cheap “fashion for all” in between sips of black
cherry White Claw.
They’ve now birthed the virtual fashion week
where you don’t need the coveted press pass to
see the shows, you just need an Instagram
account. In truth, for those of us who loved getting
the first peek, hobnobbing with celebrities, and
sipping champagne, it feels stripped of the
sparkle. But for the PR industry, it means huge
consumer engagement and an opportunity for
brands to tell their own story. So, we put our big
girl pants on and pivoted our practice. (Just
kidding-no one wore pants in 2020).
The profession will continue to evolve but the
three main pillars of a PR campaign will always
remain: identify the objective, find the right
message, and then communicate it to the targeted
audience. Even 100% virtually.
Digital access to high fashion streaming and
cheaper clothing is more democratic. But I hope
the industry finds a way to keep its sense of cache.
Because being able to say that you stood,
unbreathing, next to Anna Wintour outside the
Oscar de la Renta show? That is priceless.
Belle DuChene
Adjunct at University of Northern Iowa
10
 Financial Success this
Semester
In last semester’s edition of The PRogressor, I shared
PRSSA’s new methods of fundraising through sponsorship
and in-kind donations. This semester, we continued utilizing
these methods in addition to hosting our second annual
Paint & Sip and working concessions at UNI athletic events.

Our Chapter hosted our second annual Paint & Sip

fundraiser. Due to COVID safety regulations, we hosted the
event virtually and offered the kits for pick-up to take home
to create with their families or friends. Each kit purchased
included four colors of paint, a glass of their choosing, a
paintbrush, and a Valentine’s Day treat. We also hosted a
Zoom for PRSSA members to paint their glasses in a virtual,
safe, and entertaining environment. We were grateful to
continue to keep our event tradition alive and increase our
Chapter’s funds while getting to know each other despite
the unforeseen circumstances this year.

This semester, we introduced a new fundraising

tactic to our members. We provided the
opportunity for PRSSA members to work
concessions for UNI’s athletic events. We worked
two games this semester including a women’s
basketball game and a football game. Working
concessions was a great way to raise funds for
our Chapter while providing our dues-paying
members with the opportunity to give back to
our Chapter. Members shared that they were
pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable it was
and how they learned so many different
professionalism skills in the process.

11
This semester we were also able to form new
relationships with various businesses that
supported our Chapter through in-kind If you are
donations. These businesses include Kohl’s, becoming interested in
Pepper's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Ladybugs Event Chapter o a sponsor for ou
Planning and Rental, Nail’s by Mya, Fareway,
please rea r donating in-k r
Caribou, Cuna Mutual, and Dick’s Sporting ch out to U ind,
NI
Goods. These donations were used as prizes
unipanthe via email: PRSSA
for our members for winning games or as gifts rprssa@g
to our speakers and advisors. We thank them mail.com.
for their donations and appreciate their
support!

One thing I have learned from my time as Vice

President of Fundraising is the importance of in-
person selling. I have noticed I have far better luck
going to the businesses in person and bringing a
Anna SmolikHagen
physical copy of our sponsorship packet. This
allows for one-on-one time with the manager to
sell the idea of being a sponsor for PRSSA.
Businesses see that you made the effort to come
and are more likely to listen to your pitch. I
learned that having a verbal pitch prepared is also
highly important.

This position and my involvement with the

Chapter has not only helped me grow as a
professional but has had a lasting impact on the
members and for that I am ever grateful.

2.24.2021
- Concess
ions

12
Everyone you will ever
meet knows something
you dont.
'
The headline of this column is a quote
from Bill Nye, and it is quite accurate. The
importance of learning from our peers
can’t be stressed enough, especially when
learning about career opportunities. The
lessons one can learn from others’
mistakes, successes, and experiences are
invaluable.
This semester, UNI PRSSA members had
the opportunity to hear from a panel
composed of four UNI PRSSA alumni:
Lexie Warth, Mallory Feeny, Teresa Roof,
and Trevor Rayhons. This opportunity
provided students the chance to learn
directly from former students who had
been in their shoes and ask them
questions about their careers and
request advice.
While an education can provide the
knowledge and skills to pass a test or
complete a project, experience and
extracurricular activities offer further
opportunities to expand knowledge and
skillsets. The panel members shared how
their involvement in PRSSA advanced
them in their careers. Improving writing
skills was one way PRSSA helped Mallory
Feeny, Marketing Manager at Visit Aurora.
She said the writing experiences she
received through internships, classes, and
PRSSA opportunities pushed her past
other applicants in interview processes
and made her feel more confident in her
abilities for a position.
Trevor Rayhons, Corporate
Communications Lead Specialist at
Horizon Therapeutics, said PRSSA opened
his eyes to the opportunities the public
relations industry has to offer. The other
panelists also touched on the topic of
following your passions and how the field
of public relations allows one to do so. If
you want to write, you can, and you have
a variety of industries to choose from. If
you want to manage a brand’s reputation,
your classes and experiences set you up
to do that. If you want to curate social
media content, a public relations
internship can teach you how to succeed
at that. You may not know what a certain
position entails, as there can be many
different ones, but Rayhons
recommended to “reach out to people in
the industry you are interested in. Go on
LinkedIn and ask for an informational
13
interview.” Sparking this connection allows a person
to gain insight into a position and expand networks
of opportunities.

Similarly, Lexie Warth, Marketing and Kitchen Design

at Jim’s Appliances and JM Kitchens, explained to our
members, “Make real connections and follow up with
them.” It’s simple today to press the “Connect” button
on LinkedIn and make a digital connection, but it is
Lexie Warth
useless if it is not followed up on. Warth reminisced
on the numerous PRSSA conferences she attended
and how she didn’t follow up with the people she had
met. She advised our students to stay in touch with
those they meet at conferences, whether it be other
students or industry professionals. The larger the
network, the more opportunities.

PRSSA pushed Teresa Roof, APR and Corporate

Communications Team Leader at Wellmark Blue
Mallory Feeny
Cross Blue Shield, to get involved and continue to
grow within her career. Roof is currently the delegate
for the Central Iowa PRSA Chapter and has continued
to renew her APR, accreditation in public relations,
because of the benefits and opportunities to
advancement it provides her. She encouraged our
members to continue to stay involved in bettering
their skills after they graduate, and she stressed how
PRSA is a great way to do this.
Trevor Rayhons
Connecting with former UNI PRSSA students was not
simply an educational experience and an opportunity
to catch up; it was influential and informative to our
members wanting more insight into the public
relations industry. These four alumni shared
memorable experiences and valuable advice that will
stick with our members as they step into their own
careers.
Samantha Goodman Teresa Roof

14
 PRSSA Conferences
One of the main reasons I switched my major to public relations at UNI was because of the excitement I
saw from public relations peers who were learning and gaining so much valuable wisdom through
PRSSA district and international conferences. At these conferences, college students are able to travel
to different cities, states, and convention centers to dive into a weekend of their passion for the future.

UNI PRSSA is an organization that fosters a vast amount of opportunity for the students. One of the
many experiences as a dues-paying member is the ability to attend PRSSA conferences. At these
conferences, whether district or international, there are professional speakers, workshops, personal
connections, advice, tools, and so much more that can be gained, as well as fostering an inviting
environment for other students to meet one another.

I had heard about PRSSA conferences before I was a public relations major and saw how they were
important to students at UNI, especially those in public relations. The international conference was
something I was looking forward to as a first-year transfer into the public relations major.
Unfortunately, with the current state of the world, we were not able to travel for any conferences this
year and I couldn’t accommodate my schedule to attend the virtual international conference, PRSSA
ICON, this year.

"The day you stop learning is the day you stop living." Meghnaa Tallapragada
Nonetheless, UNI PRSSA overcame this obstacle by encouraging members to attend conferences
throughout the spring semester. Not only that but if someone was a dues-paying member of UNI
PRSSA, they would get to attend that one conference free of charge because of their membership to
the group.

Looking at these factors, I was hesitant to take up the offer because I was initially hoping for an in-
person conference. Regardless of my beginning thoughts of a virtual conference, I am so thankful I did
not give into hesitations about participating in a virtual PRSSA conference. I was able to spend eight
hours with public relations professionals from Temple University learning, growing, and connecting
with others.

Although the conference had to be virtual, there were active conversations and learning situations, as
well as insights I would not have had if it were not for the virtual conference. The biggest takeaway I
had from this conference was to not give in to your first anticipations of how an experience might be
and instead be open to a little change.

I am incredibly thankful to be going to the University of Northern Iowa, where I have professors, peers,
and organizations such as UNI PRSSA, that aid in the abundance of success in the years to come.

Riley Fridinger
15
 ?
Consider the information layout on your resume
The top should include technical skills,
programs, and equipment you have used
The middle should list previous jobs
Heading of the resume Create defined sections
Instead of listing normal skills, create bullet
Keep header small to save Is it easy to read?
points under your experiences describing
room for other important Is it one flowing page?
situations that showcase your skills
content
The education section should be at the bottom
(Optional) a short one or two
(GPA, class rank, or special awards, etc.)
sentence summary stating
Include additional sections (volunteer work,
your objective
languages, certificates, activities you’ve
participated in, etc.)

Resume
Tips & Tricks

When writing about your

Save document as a PDF
experiences
Resume sent as a word
Tailor your info to the job ad
document can create
Keep summaries short and right to
formatting issues
the point Stay away from
Saving document as a PDF
Always list quantitative data Too many graphics
ensures formatting
Use specific examples of projects Large headers
remains the same
you have done in your previous role Long summaries (use this
extra detail in your cover
letter)

16
Financial Literacy
Workshop
I am a Financial Peace University graduate. I completed this course my freshman year of college
because I was terrified that I was out on my own and had no idea how to handle my finances. I was
so grateful that my church offered this as an option, but it most definitely is not directed at college
students. However, they do talk about how any student can graduate college debt-free. I love the
program, and I love the concept of a debt-free life however graduating college debt-free
unfortunately was not realistic for me.

For the longest time, I was obsessed with finding and working new jobs to pay my tuition and rent
as I went through school. I have worked up to eight jobs at once throughout my college career. I
would even freak out if I spent my whole budget for the month. I was in a constant state of anxiety,
worried about how I was going to graduate college debt-free.

This semester one of our professional development workshops was led by the CEO of Unite Credit
Union, Karris Golden. Golden is a certified financial coach for the Iowa Credit Union League, making
her extremely qualified to lead a workshop like this.

Golden started the workshop by describing what financial literacy is then moved onto the basics of
budgeting. She spoke on credit scores and also touched on insurance. Everything she taught was
amazing, and I took a lot of information away from her presentation. However, the biggest lesson I
learned from this workshop with Golden was comfort. Comfort that it is okay to have some student
loans. Comfort that a college student’s credit score is not expected to be much higher than 700.

Even though I still struggled through my anxiety I am grateful for this workshop, the information I
learned, and the relief I gained from it. I am confident in my ability to handle my finances responsibly
post-graduation, and I am excited to begin applying some of the information and concepts learned
from the workshop.

I will remember this workshop and what Golden said about budgeting. She talked about necessity
and luxury expenses. A necessary expense is one that someone cannot live without and is vital for
their health and well-being. After considering the definition of necessary expenses, I believe that
PRSSA is definitely one of those – and it is a fixed expense of $65 per year.

Anna SmolikHagen
17
12
 Strategic PR
Student-Run Public Relations Firm
Strategic PR, the student-run public relations firm affiliated with UNI's PRSSA
Chapter, masked up and worked hard yet again this semester. The firm allows
members to work with real clients both locally and nationally on a wide variety of
public relations activities. This semester, we worked on projects for three clients:
the International Listening Association, Cedar Falls Woman's Club, and UNI Men's
Volleyball.

The International Listening Association, ILA, is an organization that aims to

promote listening in different contexts such as education and society. Their
network of members spans over 25 countries including professionals from various
industries. This semester, we helped the organization prepare for its international
conference. Our members created promotional content for social media, a step-
by-step guide on how to utilize Zoom for larger events, and other materials for the
conference.

The Cedar Falls Woman's Club is a historical landmark and special events venue in
the heart of the Cedar Falls historic district. From weddings to community group
meetings, they host a variety of different events. Our members helped them with
social media content and promotional materials, such as a brochure for visitors
and club members.

Our third client this semester was the UNI Men's Volleyball team. We worked with
the President, Austin Shepherd, to crank out contracts and guidelines for Executive
Board positions, updated their constitution, and helped the club remain consistent
with their brand by creating guides for social media.

Students can learn valuable skills from their educational courses and projects,
however, they can apply what they've learned in those courses in Strategic PR as a
member of a team. Working with clients on tasks like social media and fundraising
can also help students express their creativity and learn new skills that will be
useful to them in the future.

Maddie Szczerba

18
 for landing your
Tips dream job

1
Create a compelling resume
Always tell the truth
Try to keep it to 1-11/2
pages max
Resume The most important skills
should be placed at the top
Make it position-specific
Always tell the truth
Try to keep it to 1-11/2
pages max
The most important skills
should be placed at the top

Make it position-specific
Keep it concise; less than a full page
Short introduction (2-3 sentences)
Why are you attracted to the company?
Previous role(s) applicable to the job
Connect the experience with a job requirement
from the posting
Short conclusion as to why you’re the right fit
Thank you
2
Submit a cover letter! Not
everyone does.
Not every application requires a
cover letter, so submitting one
will set you apart from others.
Show off your writing skills
Cover Letter
This is a chance to explain how
you will be best in the role

3
Find a position you are interested in and apply
Upload your resume, cover letter, and any portfolio/pieces of work
Connect with the hiring manager or department manager on LinkedIn sending a
Apply & message saying you’ve applied and are looking forward to speaking more about
the position.
Follow Up! Follow up: If you haven’t heard back from the company within a week, send an
email or call the hiring manager to express your interest.

Update your LinkedIn profile
Promote that you are seeking new
employment
Make sure all profiles are clean and
up to date
Connect with individuals and follow
companies of which you are
interested in
4
Search for jobs
Begin searching for positions you are
interested in
Even if a position states the applicant must
have 2-3 years of experience, still apply. LinkedIn
The worst they can do is say no!
Filter by location and key words
Set alerts to be notified when new jobs are
posted with your key words

19
 5
Be prepared Know the job & Know your elevator
Know your interview location company speech
Being early is being on time Familiarize yourself Who are you?
Familiarize yourself with the with their core What is your
background?
Before the
name of who you’re speaking
with beforehand. Use it.
values
Know their product, Why are you Interview
Dress appropriately and mission, or who excited about this
comfortably they provide opportunity?
services for

6
During the interview
Expect a lot of situational
questions: problem-solving,
During the teamwork, conflict,
During the interview process,
Interview ask about the salary midpoint
for the position.
Maintain eye contact and
smile
Questions
Have questions prepared beforehand
Ask about the culture, what the daily duties
would look like, how the team functions,
management styles, etc.
Do your homework and show that in your
question:
Ex: Research a past award and ask about how
the team worked to receive that award.

7
Send a thank you Be patient
Email→ that day but not too soon Don't bug the hiring manager.
Note → put in the mail that day Understand that they have other
Comment on a specific thing someone
said and express your interest again
applicants and want to make the right
decision!
After the
letting them know you’re looking They may ask for another interview, so Interview
forward to hearing back from them be prepared.
Be unique!

8
Salary Negotiation Making it official
Do some research about a salary range Sign the offer letter before
Other items to consider negotiating: announcing your new position
401K and company match
Accepting PTO/VTO/FTO
and ask that it is okay if you tell
others
the Offer Reimbursement/stipends
Student loan forgiveness
Update your LinkedIn or other
profiles to reflect your updated
Tuition reimbursement
position
Relocation
Sign-on bonus

20
 New Year, New Pursuits
As a Chapter and an organization, UNI PRSSA strives to be innovative, creative, and inspired. We
want to be a Chapter that motivates our members and always provides them with new and
challenging opportunities to become better professionals, and in the end, a better version of
themselves. At the core, this Chapter exists to assist young professionals (i.e. college students)
on their journey to full-time careers in their chosen field. UNI PRSSA strives to fill in the gaps of
real-world experience that college students may not yet be getting and provides ways through
which students can network with professionals, learn more about their respective fields, and
develop a further passion for and understanding of their future career. This is what led to the
creation of UNI PRSSA’s new blog, Setting PRecedents.

As the Vice President of Member Services for UNI PRSSA, it is my responsibility to grow our
membership, retain members, and aid in providing members with incredibly valuable
experiences that make their time in our organization worthwhile and invaluable. With the
ringing in of the new year on January 1st, 2021, I could think of no better way to do so as an
organization than by doing something new and creative to continually grow and challenge
ourselves and our members – hence, Setting PRecedents was born.

The idea was to create something that more members could be involved in that had longevity
to it. An additional bonus in the creation of the blog was that it allows our members to have
their writing published on our website. This gives them named credit for their work, something
that they can then share with family, friends, and future employers. Published work is highly
valued in most fields, which is what I believe truly makes UNI PRSSA’s blog so vital to our
organization. Finally, it adds a more personal touch to our website in that anyone can visit the
blog to find out more about our organization, our members, etc.

Our hope with Setting PRecedents is that

people with differing levels of knowledge of UNI
PRSSA can visit our blog and learn something
new, relate to an article, and envision for
themselves just what it is we do and are so
passionate about. We also hope that our
members find it an invaluable opportunity to
put themselves out there and further grow
themselves as professionals. And finally, we
hope that this blog, Setting PRecedents,
becomes a key representative of this
organization and everything that we stand for.

Megan Kramer

21
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Iowa 5
The Road to PRSSA
Not always a PR path
Making a life-altering decision from the ages of 18-20
doesn’t sound too promising. Coming into college can be
an intimidating thing to do. The area you determine to be
your major or focus can be difficult to decide. There can
be many conversations and thoughts on the topic and
Majors by the
most likely questions from others about why you chose
that major. There are many conversations around the numbers
topic of that one decision that determines your future – Strategic PR Major: 52%
“What are you studying?” It’s imperative you have a good
and passionate answer to this question, as this is what
can define you for the rest of your college career.
Event Planning Major: 22%
I realized the importance of my major and area of study in
my junior year of college. Being a psychology major, I had
a wide range of opportunities for my future career. As I
begin to finish up my undergraduate degree, I know I Communication Major: 11%
have a passion for the field of psychology and am positive
it can have an impact on future generations.

Sports PR Major: 7%
After finishing my first public relations course, I was
invited to a student organization called Strategic PR by
one of my classmates. Walking into a room and not
knowing what to expect, in addition to and not seeing a Digital Media Major: 4%
familiar face, felt like walking into class the first day of my
freshman year. I wasn’t sure if this was the right path for
me, as I wasn’t a public relations major and didn’t know
much about the industry. After many meetings and Psychology Major: 4%
introductions, I realized that I had an interest in the public
relations field and working with other individuals to
improve small businesses in the Cedar Valley. From this
realization, I recognized I now have two areas of interest,
psychology, and public relations. I originally thought those
two industries could never work together in the real
world. However, after much discussion and thought, I
came to the conclusion that my two passions could not
only complement each other but could be my best tools
in building my new future

23
 Understanding human interaction is the
Members by the foundation of social psychology. It is also a key
aspect of public relations. Having the scientific
numbers knowledge of understanding human beings and
the professionalism Strategic PR offers me is
Junior: 48% now one of my best qualities. In the beginning, I
thought I came to a fork in the road with
psychology on one side and PR on the other. I
did not want to make the wrong decision by
choosing one over the other. So I didn’t and
Senior: 30% that’s the best part.

Being a part of the public relations community

has benefited me in ways that psychology could
not. Strategic PR and PRSSA have given me the
Sophomore: 15% tools, and the confidence, to work with small
business owners and organizations on their own
passions. Being a part of the public relations
community has given me the connections and
Freshman: 7% friends that push me to do my best. I am now
actively combining my new knowledge of PR
with my background in psychology and I could
not see myself in any other fields. Strategic PR
and PRSSA have been a huge push for me, and I
urge anyone to follow their own curiosity and
see where it leads them. It is never too early or
too late to build a new path.

Courtney Kauffman

Thank you to our incredible dues-paying members!

Samantha Goodman Maci Freiburger
Shelby Reicks Alisanne Struck
Anna SmolikHagen Aaron Ziskovsky
Megan Kramer Lydia Kernen
Maddie Inman Maddie Davis
Onastacia Roe Riley Fridinger
Contessa Van Buskirk Hailee Merryman
Madison Szczerba Gabriella Henrichs
Sophia Aguirre Courtney Kauffman
Kate Greenwood Michael Bohlmann
Kelsi Askeland Lakota Lackey
Jordyn Barragy Paige Beck
Emily Kent Jimmie Steffans
Rebecca Lienemann

24
Adventure
awaits our members
summer 2021 internships & jobs
Onastacia Roe: Chicago, Illinois
Select Model Management; Runway and
Creators Divisions Intern
Megan Kramer: Des Moines, Iowa
EMC Insurance; Corporate Communications
Intern
Jordyn Barragy: Louisville, Kentucky
Permission Ridge, Polo Fields, & Oxmoor golf
clubs; Marketing and Guest Services Assistant
Samantha Goodman: West Des Moines, Iowa
Strategic America; Strategic Communications
Intern
Kelsi Askeland: Des Moines, Iowa
White Willow Events; Event Planning Intern
Anna SmolikHagen: West Des Moines, Iowa
Expedition Wealth Management; Event
Planner, Marketing and Social Media Manager
Shelby Reicks: Virtual - Based in Texas
Legends Global Sales Training Camp; Camper
Riley Fridinger: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Hilton Garden Inn Hotel; Event Planning and
Social Media Intern
Maddie Szczerba: Cedar Falls, Iowa
IFC Studios; Messaging Studio Intern
Sophia Aguirre: Houston, Texas
Talks Brand Group; PR Junior Publicist Intern
25
Promote Your
The year 2020 was full of “no’s.” “No, we can’t go
out to the restaurant because the restaurant is
closed.” “No, my health isn’t doing as well as I
want it to be.” “No, we did not make a profit this
quarter.” The list goes on and on. The year 2020
was a setback to many of us and saying “yes” to
certain activities, people, or jobs was difficult.
Will I stick with this? Will I get anything out of
this organization? Can I make time for this? I
don’t know about you, but many of these
questions were running through my head
throughout 2020. In that year I got cut from my
job, my collegiate athletics came to a pause, and
my studies were interrupted. All of this left me
in a position of discontentment. A
discontentment that I had never felt before.
But, with every struggle in life, there is some
form of light, and this light came to me when I
started my first semester at the University of
Northern Iowa in the spring of 2021 joining
PRSSA.
I have always been an enterprising person and
someone who constantly says “yes” to new
opportunities. Coming to the University of
Northern Iowa, I was eager to see what was out
there for students like myself. Stepping foot on
campus, I was introduced to several groups on
my major in public relations, one of them being
the Public Relations Student Society of America
(PRSSA). I was told by a few of my friends that
this student organization was worth every
minute of attendance on Mondays from four
o’clock to five o’clock. Right away I was hooked
and I decided to say, “yes,” to becoming a dues-
paying member after the first meeting.
Upon arrival at the first meeting, I was
welcomed by several members who made me
feel as if I already belonged. I knew right away
yes
that this would be a place of comfort coming
from a year of discomfort, and I didn’t even
know what the meeting was going to be
about! Throughout the next several weeks,
we attended Zoom meetings with public
relations professionals who talked about
many things that pertain to your career post-
college. Such as financial tips, stress
management, and how to network to name a
few. We also had social events to bring
PRSSA members together to get to know
each other. The events included bowling, a
cookout, and a scavenger hunt.
When looking back at this semester, I am
glad I said, "yes," to joining PRSSA. I became a
dues-paying member which is a $70 annual
entry that allows me to apply for private
scholarships, receive notifications from a
private Facebook group, gives me
opportunities to attend PRSA and PRSSA
conferences, webinars, meetings, and more. I
have met some phenomenal people who
have provided an example of great
leadership, too. PRSSA has also given me
more confidence that my major was the right
choice and that it is worth the time and
energy. This is my first semester being a part
of PRSSA, but I know that in the next two
semesters at the University of Northern Iowa,
PRSSA will inscribe confidence and visions of
a successful future.
Michael Bohlmann
26
 New Member Testimony
It is safe to say that this past year has shifted many aspects of our lives, especially life
as college students. The strategies we have learned of how to succeed in the midst of a
global pandemic can continue to be utilized while pursuing our dream careers. This
was true for me as I decided to transfer into a new major in public relations with a
minor in marketing at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I decided to change my major because I was not as passionate about my previous

major of teaching and I knew I needed to change something. I am fortunate to say that
the public relations major has offered me all that I was looking for and more, making it
clear that I made the right choice. I have never felt so driven to pursue every dream in
my life that I have until changing to the public relations major.

With that being said, I was eager to become as involved as I could once we got back on
campus last fall to get to know my new major and people with similar interests as
myself. I have not only been able to meet other students with a passion for their
careers and kindness like no other but I have also been given so many opportunities in
UNI’s PRSSA Chapter that I had no idea I needed. From workshops to bonding nights,
guided advice, and conferences, this group has shown me what it means to not only
have an eagerness to succeed but also strive for your goals encouragingly and
excitingly. I am looking forward to continuing to be a part of UNI PRSSA for my final
year as a senior here at UNI and to continue learning, growing, and meeting new
people.

Riley Fridinger

27
 Learning from the Best
A Virtual Panel with the #1 PR Firm in the World
On Monday, March 22, seven prominent public relations professionals from the number one
public relations firm in the world, Edelman, joined UNI PRSSA’s Zoom meeting. Chatting about
Edelman’s history, values and mission, specialties, and services, as well as providing advice in
regards to how college students can prepare for a future in PR, this panel covered it all.

Edelman was founded almost seventy years ago by Dan Edelman and continues to be family-
owned and operated to this day. Consisting of over 6,000 employees, 65 cities, and 6 continents,
this successful agency has been named “PR Agency of the Year” and “Best Place to Work,” along
with countless other awards within the industry.

This firm does it all, with brand marketing, advocacy and public affairs, thought leadership,
digital, and social media to name a few. Operating in two major global practices or sectors,
being brand and corporate, Edelman has clients in everything from finance to food and
beverage.

The leadership of Edelman who spoke on UNI PRSSA’s panel included a variety of individuals
from a multitude of departments in the agency setting.

Lisa Wunsch – Integrated Producer

Janice Gebhardt – Account Supervisor
Katie Stemler – Senior Account Supervisor
Bennett Travers – Supervisor, Communications Planning
Rey Perez – Media Supervisor
Kathi Perrella – Senior Project Manager
Sarah Black – Senior Copywriter

Answering members’ burning questions, these

panelists spoke about what a typical day looks like in
each department, how college students can make
themselves stand out when pursuing a career in public
relations, as well as the biggest mistakes they have
made in their careers and how they’ve adapted.
UNI PRSSA members enjoyed learning from the “best of the best” in the realm of public relations
and are excited to utilize the industry insight and advice offered by the leadership team of
Edelman.
Onastacia Roe
28
 How to Become a
Networking Ninja
I was able to get an internship in our
Now more than ever, a degree is
Athletic Communications department
not the only requirement to landing
throughout my junior year. After that, I
your dream job. According to an
knew it was essential in growing my
article released by CNBC in 2019,
network. I made a LinkedIn account and
nearly 80% of all jobs are filled
got to work. It was after the first in-
through personal and professional
person informational interview that I
connections. The saying, “it’s not
found a love for networking and how
what you know, but who you know,”
valuable it could be for me. Since my
rings true. This is a quote that I
first informational interview in the
resonate with.
summer of 2019, I have connected with
anywhere from 75-100 professionals in
When I first started college, I had no
the PR, sales, and marketing industry.
idea what career to pursue. My
Each networking session taught me
family encouraged me to become a
about different career paths and
teacher or a nurse, but I knew the
valuable advice to carry with me after
so-called “secure and traditional
college. In addition to that, everyone I
route” was not for me. This thought
networked with now knows who this
led to the greatest impulse decision
Shelby Reicks girl is.
of my life. I woke up the first day of
nursing classes and had this strong
You may be asking yourself, “How do I
gut instinct that it was not my
even reach out to people?” When I first
passion. I called the nursing school
started, it was new to me, but I
and dropped out. Luckily it was the
embraced the uncomfortable. I have
beginning of the semester and I
outlined some steps below that I use to
enrolled in classes at UNI and
network with professionals!
decided a PR degree with a
marketing minor was perfect for
As you can see, networking is truly
me. Since I didn’t start classes for
about being yourself and having the
my major until my junior year, I felt
urge to constantly learn. After each call,
extremely behind compared to my
you will become more confident in your
peers. I had no experience and no
ability to reach out to others. Who
connections, which are the two
knows where the connection may lead
most important factors in finding a
you!
job.

Shelby Reicks
29
 1
6 Research people on LinkedIn
that have a job title that
2
interests you.
After the call ends, send a thank
you note with something you
learned from the chat that you Connect with that person
will take with you. Add their on LinkedIn and add a note.
name to a spreadsheet with this Adding a note greatly
information and the date you improves your odds of
contacted them. For people that
you resonated with most, be
Six Steps to gaining the connection and
shows your personal side.

sure to follow up accordingly
throughout the year. This may
play a large role in landing a job
or finding a great mentor.
Become a
The note can simply
compliment them on their
current career or a recent
Networking success that you admire.

5 3
Be a great listener and
take notes throughout
the call that you found
valuable. Be true to
yourself and let your
personality shine.
Ninja
4 After the connection is
made, send another
message simply asking to
have a 20-30 minute chat to
discuss their career
Prepare for the journey. Many
discussion ahead of professionals are more
time. Do research and than willing to listen and
come up with help college students. After
questions that you all, most were in our shoes
truly would like to ask years ago.
and learn about.

30
 Meet our Advisors

Name: Dr. Gayle Pohl, APR

Position: '20-'21 Faculty Co-Advisor, Public Relations
Professor at UNI
Time with the Chapter: 28 years
Fun Fact: Gayle used to be a professional puppeteer.
She performed in multiple different states utilizing large
marienette characters.

Name: Dr. Jeffrey Brand

Position: '20-'21 Faculty Co-Advisor, Public Relations
Professor at UNI
Time with the Chapter: 6 years
Fun Fact: Jeffery's grandmother, Ruth Brand, had her own
cooking TV show and published cookbooks under the name
‘Betty Crocker’.

Name: Jenny Phan, APR

Position: PRSA Chapter Liaison & Professional Advisor,
Corporate Communications Manager at Shive Hattery
Time with the Chapter: 3 years
Fun Fact: Jenny's first foray in storytelling took place as
part of the “Truths Be Told” live storytelling series which
kicked off in September 2019.

31
 Newsletter Committee

Maddie Inman Samantha Goodman Anna SmolikHagen

Megan Kramer Maddie Davis Jordyn Barragy

Maddie Szczerba Onastacia Roe Shelby Reicks

Riley Fridinger Courtney Kauffman Michael Bohlmann

32
Thank You
Our gratitude goes out to each and every one of you reading the spring 2021 edition of The
PRogressor and those who dedicated their time and skills to make this publication happen. Our
newsletter would not have been possible without the input and effort from the newsletter
committee.

PRSSA would like to thank the members of the Spring 2021 newsletter committee: Maddie Inman,
Samantha Goodman, Anna SmolikHagen, Megan Kramer, Onastacia Roe, Shelby Reicks, Jordyn
Barragy, Maddie Davis, Maddie Szczerba, Courtney Kauffman, Riley Fridinger, & Michael Bohlmann.
We appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to this publication.

We would also like to thank our professors and advisors who have continually supported us. We are
grateful to have their experience and expertise along the way teaching us new things as we venture
into our careers.

Our Chapter would like to extend our greatest thanks to all of our members and UNI students who
supported our Chapter this semester by attending events and investing in our organization. We
could not succeed without you all! We appreciate your participation and input and are looking
forward to next semester.

Looking forward to next year, we are excited to expand our Chapter and meet new members. We
are grateful to have another successful and memorable year under our belts and thank you all for
your help in that. Our Chapter wouldn't be what it is today without each and every one of you
reading this.

One last special thank you to our two sponsors, Veridian Credit Union and Unite Credit Union.

33