A Letter from our President

By Jessica Klonaris, Chapter President

Like many incoming freshmen, I had no idea what I wanted to major in when I came to JMU. I went down many different paths, but I wasn’t passionate about any major until I discovered communication studies. PRSSA did a presentation in my introductory class and I instantly fell in love with public relations. I would have never thought that I would end my college career as the president of our chapter, especially during a global pandemic.

PRSSA has been one of the best experiences of my college career, and I strive to create the same experience for all our members. We planned to implement additional bonding and mentorship opportunities this semester, as well as create more engaging and interactive meetings. However, COVID-19 restrictions made it difficult to achieve these goals. I had to work closely with my executive team to adapt our programming to be entirely online.

Although we were unable to experience an in-person PRSSA International Conference or visit agencies in Richmond and D.C., I am still incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish this semester. Our many workshops provided members with useful PR knowledge and skills, and we utilized our connections through guest speakers and sharing virtual events with other chapters. Most importantly, I am glad that we were still able to have a successful semester while keeping our community safe.

I want to give a huge thank you to our members and supporters for sticking with us as we navigated through these unprecedented times. We all felt the Zoom burnout at some point, but we greatly appreciate everyone for taking the time to attend our events and support our chapter. I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing winter break, and happy holidays!

Best,

Jessica Klonaris