Welcome future Marauders! If you are a prospective student interested in becoming a part of the Communications Department here at Millersville University, specifically a concentration in Public Relations, this blog is for you!
Down below, we have multiple pieces of content for students, starting with an overview blog to take a look at to truly show what PR really is, what it includes, and how it will benefit you overall.
From learning the best practices in Public Relations to meeting sacred lifelong friendships, joining Millersville University’s Public Relations department is a guaranteed learning experience that could open up job opportunities, brand deals, and overall business relationships.
So, what is Public Relations, and why do I want to join the department? To break it down, Millersville University has a main department known as the Communication & Theatre Department that includes many different communication majors such as Journalism, Theater, Digital Communication & Cultural Studies, etc., but we are going to focus on the concentration in Public Relations.
Public Relations is the building blocks of building and maintaining relationships that are positive between organizations and key publics. PR is also used to develop a strong image for small businesses, nonprofits, corporations, and organizations that, overall, benefit the community.
When majoring, minoring, or even taking a PR class as an elective, a few things you will be introduced to will consist of learning new writing skills, social skills, fostering relationships between media and the public, design skills, communication research, message production, case analysis, and campaign planning and creating.
Getting involved is another effective way of expanding your experience. Millersville University offers extracurricular activities in PR like PRSSA, MUTV, HerCampus, The Snapper, Engage for Change Journal, and so much more!
The skills and tips you will learn within these courses and extracurriculars could lead you to become a PR specialist and let your creativity take off. Setting goals and expectations for yourself in the Public Relations field and department will allow you to take your career to new heights and allow the benefits of the department to sink in.
Now, all of this information may be a little intimidating when just starting to think about what you want to do with your life, but using PR as your guide and your motive will open new bridges and opportunities for you in the future!
As you move forward with this degree, opportunities such as internships will start to open up more and more, opening up a permanent job after you graduate! There are endless opportunities within the Public Relations field that lead to endless opportunities. The PR department and field are always looking for new members to join the team, and we hope you will join us!
Let’s do this together!
Podcast:
Interview with Dr. Thomas Boyle
Interviews with a professor and a student as they share their experiences and student development opportunities that are offered within the classroom and the Public Relations Student Society of America.
FAQ Page:
Videos:
Alumni sharing their experience within the public relations concentration of Millersville University’s communications department. Both were heavily involved in the program, becoming members of PRSSA and making connections with professors. Their advice is essential to anyone considering this concentration!
Infographic:
Success Stories:
Alumni Maggi Barton
In the bustling world of Communications, success stories often start with passion, dedication, and a strong foundation. Maggi Barton, an alumni of Millersville University’s Public Relations department, holds these qualities and more. Her journey from a Millersville Communication’s student to a seasoned Public Relations Professional just goes to show the transformative power of education, internships, connections, and networking.
Barton graduated from MU in 2017 with a degree in Communications, specializing in Public Relations, and minors in Journalism and International Studies. From the very beginning she knew the importance of getting involved. Throughout her four years, Barton secured four diverse internships which allowed her to explore various industries of Public Relations. Barton’s involvement in Public Relation Student Society of America and the foundation courses she took paved the way for her success.
Her first job in government, initially unexpected, became the start of Barton’s extraordinary career path. Starting out as Press Assistant, she became the glue that held various responsibilities together. This entry-level role allowed for her to dip her toes into the digital world, media relations, event planning, and programming side of PR.
After two years, Barton’s hard work paid off while she was promoted to Deputy Communications Director for the same state department. In this role she got the opportunity to Travel and manage proactive communications, events, and media relations. Then, in March of 2020, Barton took the role of Deputy Press Secretary at the Department of Health during the global pandemic. This challenging position put her at the forefront of media relations, handling an unprecedented 12,000 media inquiries from March of 2020 to January of 2021. This period became the highlight of her career, showing her resilience and leadership during a crucial time such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Six years later, as a Media Relations Manager at WellSpan, Barton has shifted her focus. In this role, she continues to excel in media relations, leveraging the foundation laid during her diverse work experiences.
Reflecting on her academic journey, Barton credits communication courses for the foundation for her post college work. The public relations capstone course was crucial to Barton as she served as an account executive, led a team, managed a campaign, and built client relations. The campaign that Barton’s team produced for this course was entered into a PRSA Awards program which ultimately led to their winning campaign. Barton emphasizes the significance of these foundational public relations courses at Millersville, because they helped shape her career journey.
Barton’s advice to prospective students is simple but profound: get involved. She highlights the importance of internships, non-profit work, and active participation in organizations like PRSSA at Millersville University. Barton encourages students to seize every opportunity to ask questions, learn, and grow, emphasizing the impact of networking. PRSSA, in Barton’s words, was “life-changing” for her college career. From agency tours to networking events and speakers, her involvement on the board allowed her to bring in speakers of Interest, broadening her understanding of PR across various industries. She also stresses the importance of mentorship, suggesting that students should not hesitate to shadow professionals in the field. According to Barton, most people are willing to mentor students, and it’s crucial to take advantage of such opportunities.
Maggi Barton’s Journey from Millersville University’s public relations program to her current role as a media relations manager at WellSpan is proof of the impact of education, internships, and networking. Her story serves as an inspiration for future PR professionals, which highlights the importance of getting involved, seizing opportunities, and building lasting connections. Millersville’s Public Relations department has not just equipped Barton with knowledge but has empowered her to thrive in the world of public relations. As the program welcomes new students, Maggi Barton stands as a living proof of the program’s ability to shape successful, well-rounded PR professionals.
Alumni Lucas Neiderer
In 2010, Lucas Neiderer graduated from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, specializing in the Public Relations concentration of the department. Little did he know that his educational journey would take him from Pennsylvania to the heart of Colorado, and then ultimately becoming the Director of Marketing for Dolan Auto Group in Reno, Nevada. Lucas Neiderer’s success story is just one of many that shows the power of education, mentorship, and opportunities at Millersville University.
Neiderer’s professional journey began with an internship at a mom-and-pop agency in Colorado shortly after graduation. Despite the agency not having the resources to hire him full-time, they recognized his talent and connected him with Saatchi & Saatchi, a global advertising and marketing giant. This was just the beginning of Neiderer’s journey into the world of well known accounts including, JCPenny, Visa, and Toyota.
His initial experience at Saatchi & Saatchi revolved around the Toyota account, offering him exposure to the world of media buying and advertising. Over the course of two years, Lucas worked with a media buying team in LA, gaining more insights into the industry’s wide variety of opportunities.
After his short time at Regis University, where he dove deeper into his digital skills, Saatchi & Saatchi reached out again. This time, they entrusted him with the role of Digital Lead for the western United States. Lucas excelled, running digital media strategy and reporting directly to the board of directors, with Toyota remaining a prominent client of his.
Toyota, recognizing Neiderer’s expertise, recruited him for their ecommerce team. This role involved extensive travel and marked his transition into the retail side of ecommerce. During this period, Lucas collaborated with the Dolan Auto Group in Nevada which saw his professional growth with Toyota. Due to the amount of traveling, Neiderer moved to Reno and shifted gears to the retail operations side, eventually becoming Director of Marketing for Dolan Auto Group.
Neiderer credits his success to the solid foundation laid during his time at Millersville University’s Communication Department. Dr. Wood, in particular, played a pivotal role in shaping his career. Her emphasis on real-world scenarios and tangible materials equipped him with a portfolio that impressed Saatchi & Saatchi during his hiring process. Neiderer’s involvement in the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at Millersville enriched his student experience, providing opportunities to network with professionals and fellow students alike. He also credits Dr. Boyle for his role as academic advisor of PRSSA, pushing the students to excel and make connections.
For prospective students, Neiderer offers advice: be curious, be interested, and be hungry. Embrace every opportunity to learn, ask questions, and challenge yourself during your time at Millersville. He emphasizes the importance of having fun and fostering a collaborative, challenging environment. In Neiderer’s view, being active, trying new things, and seizing opportunities are crucial to personal and professional growth.
As he reflects on his journey at Millersville University, Lucas Neiderer encourages students to go for it, be active, and try everything you possibly can. His internships, he says, paved the way for his current position, and he wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything. Neiderer’s success just goes to show the transformative power of education, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to embracing every opportunity that comes your way.
Student Sara Hedglin
As a senior at Millersville University, Sara Hedglin’s journey through the Communications department, specifically studying public relations, shows the diverse opportunities and skills the major offers. Driven by her love for people-to-people connection, media outlets, and a passion for writing, Hedglin found the perfect blend of business and communication in Public Relations.
Currently serving as an office intern at Liberty which is mainly business focused, Hedglin’s responsibilities extend beyond the typical PR areas. Conducting phone interviews, reviewing resumes, scheduling appointments, and managing emails, she recognizes the transferable skills that will ultimately shape her future career. Despite her role not being PR-focused, the experiences she gained there are invaluable, setting the stage for her professional growth in the coming months.
After her internship with Liberty, Hedglin is set to work with the Donovan Food and Beverage Marketing Agency as a content marketing intern. This role will allow her to delve into different social media platforms, creating content schedules and gaining insights into audience preferences in the digital world.
Hedglin attributes much of her success to the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Wood and Dr. Boyle. Dr. Wood’s emphasis on deep curiosity and rigorous reading and writing prepares students for real-world applications. Hedglin appreciates the high expectations set by Dr. Wood, recognizing that she mirrors the challenges one will face in the business world. Dr. Boyle’s unwavering support and willingness to go the extra mile has also left a lasting impact on Hedglin’s educational journey. His guidance provides tools for students to navigate the PR landscape, and ultimately instills confidence in them. Courses such as public relations writing and digital media writing have been pivotal for Hedglin, introducing her to skills that were applied to her internship experiences. The projects that were assigned in the courses have not only contributed to her success at Liberty but have laid a solid foundation for her future career.
Active involvement in the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has been a game changer for Hedglin. The student organization has provided her with professional connections that go beyond the classroom, that offer insights into various industries within PR. Serving as the social media manager and later being elected as the vice president of Millersville’s PRSSA Chapter, Hedglin has not only developed her leadership skills but also a professional network that helped her secure her upcoming internship.
Looking towards the future, Hedglin’s interests in the social media side of public relations for non-profit or mental health organizations shine through. Her passion extends to the travel industry as well, where she envisions a future career that allows her to experience the world. A recent course in Crisis Communication has also opened her eyes to the crisis management side of public relations, which has only broadened her horizons for the future.
Sara Hedglin’s successful journey thus far is just one of many students studying within the Public Relations department. As she prepares to graduate in May, she stands confident for a future where her passion, skills, and experiences thus far will make a meaningful impact in the dynamic world of public relations.
Students Clayton Frymoyer and Kora Sorrano
Two exceptional communication students at Millersville University, Clayton Frymoyer and Kora Serrano, stand as fantastic examples of success and dedication. Their recent hard work with taking their last two public relations courses simultaneously by completing their capstone course through an independent study displays the diverse opportunities this major offers. Their collaborative efforts during this study exemplify the hands-on, real-world experience Millersville University provides.
For Clayton Frymoyer, the decision to switch from a business major from a neighboring school to the public relations major at Millersville marked a pivotal moment in his academic journey. Having a little bit of PR work done in the past, Frymoyer found that his passion was beyond the business side of things. Currently working on an independent study for the PR 4 capstone course, Frymoyer and Serrano recently crafted a survey for the PRSA Keystone Awards. Frymoyer’s proudest achievement thus far is the connections he made during the independent study so far. Their initiative at this event established crucial industry contacts for future career opportunities.
Remaining open-minded about his career path, Frymoyer attributes his success to the unique combination of courses he took simultaneously. With taking Public Relations Issues during this time, it allowed him to apply recently acquired skills into a real hands-on experience during the independent study. Frymoyer credits Dr. Boyle for his unwavering support and mentorship thus far. He said working alongside Dr. Boyle in both courses has helped him develop more professional skills.
Kora Serrano’s journey in public relations began with uncertainty about her career path. Her interest peaked from the broad scope of career opportunities within the major, she discovered her calling through personal connections. Her step-mom’s non-profit organization became the focal point of their academic studies, where Frymoyer and Serrano actively contributed to campaigns centered around the organization’s mission. Serrano’s greatest accomplishment thus far has been transforming from a student mindset to a professional mindset. Her involvement in her family’s non-profit organization not only provided her with a comfortable transition but also a unique perspective of real-world applications of PR.
Serrano hopes to fall into the event planning industry post-graduation. Serrano is hopeful that the connections she’s made at the Keystone Awards will propel her toward her career goals. For Serrano, taking the last two public relations courses simultaneously has provided her with great knowledge but she also acknowledges the challenges that come along with that. She credits Dr. Boyle for his long-standing support and comfortable mentor-student relationship which allows her to seek guidance with ease.
Together, Frymoyer and Serrano’s success stories can serve as inspiration to incoming students who are considering concentrating in Public Relations within the Communication department at Millersville University. Their independent study exemplifies the opportunities, mentorship, and real-world applications incoming students could experience. These experiences lay the foundation for a promising future for them in the dynamic field of public relations.