PRSSA Guiding students into the industry Interview: Alison Gaulden

Chantaye_ Imani
3 min readMar 25, 2022

Chantaye Louis

The image above is not owned by me. Picture owned by University of Nevada, Reno.

Alison Gaulden, a professor faculty adviser for PRSSA Nevada Public Relations Student Society of America, Government/Public Affairs expert, talks about how PRSSA teaches students networking skills alongside industry professionals guiding them into the journalism industry.

Gaulden: The Public Relations Society has a professional chapter and a student chapter, the CRFFA, and public relations student society. I am the faculty adviser. The program does three things for students: enhance their education, broaden their network, and launch their careers. They are paired with professionals in the industry both locally and regionally and across the country. Helping launch their careers with tips and tools to help students. The PRSSA has a board of directors with nine students managing the club. These students offer programming that is of value to the membership. You do not have to be a member to attend the programs.

Louis: What programs does your club offer to get students connected?

Gaulden: We are committed to talking about diverse voices in the public relations field. We have workshops with guest speakers talking about the misrepresentation of communities of color in media. A program we have planned is teaching students how to get out in the industry to bigger cities with alumni they can connect to in New York, San Antonio, Austin, and more. We have student alumni living in those places.

Louis: Since you are talking about mentors, what is the process to connect with mentors?

Gaulden: The membership PRSA has professionals that are willing to mentor students. One of our board assignments is to manage and match students with professionals in the industry. We find student interests like someone like yourself who has an interest in pursuing news but PR. We would try to find former news practitioners who are now doing public relations so that students can have the opportunity to connect with someone who knows the fields with the same goals as the student. If, in the career of sports, news, and entertainment. We based that on who is an alumnus in the industry doing similar things as the student. It does not always work; the student has access to someone who can guide them to the profession they want to pursue. Since the industry is not what you know but who you know, this is a wonderful; opportunity for students to network and workshops they want to do.

Louis: Since you mentioned a fee for students who might have financial issues, how can they become a member. What is the cost to join?

Gaulden: We do not want fees to be a barrier to participation. PRSSA is supported; by the official chapter giving us funds for scholarships. We hope to fundraise once the peak of the pandemic goes down. The fees are 75 dollars. $55 goes to the nationals helping bring national speakers also conferences for students to attend. Students can connect with me. I will put them in contact with the treasurer. I am unsure how many scholarships we have left.

Louis: Is there anything else that I may have missed or that you would like to add?

Gaulden: Having attended my ethics class. It is valuable to look at the future and be involved. We want students to participate in the professional organization as we start adhering to codes of ethics and do better in PR in the industry and making inclusive representation cognizant; of issues of the day and climate change and political discord… things that fracture us. Our industry has a lot of things to do with how we handle situations and issues.

If you are interested in PRSSA journalism get connected. As well as congratulations to Alison’s commitment to the community, being a role model/mentor, and her passion for advocating for the PR industry, University students, and community.

The picture above is not owned by me. Imaged owned by PRSSA.

Follow PRSSA and get connected today!

Professor Alison Gaulden email: gauldena@unr.edu

Social Media
International Chapter: @prssanational
Reno’s Chapter: @prssanevada
www.prssanevada.com

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