LMU PRSSA panelist event in 2018. Photo from @lmu_prssa on Instagram.
LOS ANGELES – The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter at Loyola Marymount University has been brought back after its removal from campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. PRSSA will provide students with new opportunities for networking and professional development.
Its return to campus began when Public Relations Professor Zito Cruz mentioned to her students that LMU once had a PRSSA chapter during a class in September. Kai Vaughn, a Junior Communication Studies and PR minor, as well as one of the students who led the reinstatement of the chapter, said she became interested in the opportunity to bring the chapter back after learning about it in class with Cruz.
“After class I asked her if we could seriously get it started back up again,” Vaughn said.
After Vaughn expressed her interest, Cruz brought the idea of reinstatement to the Communication Studies department where Communication Studies professor Kai Prins was appointed as the chapter’s faculty advisor. With this support, PRSSA was re-established on campus as a registered student organization for the first time in six years.
“We shared information with other Communication Studies and Public Relations students to see who was interested, and worked with national PRSSA, student leadership and development to bring it back starting this semester,” said Vaughn.
During this past December, Vaughn built up the executive board for the chapter. The first meeting was held on Feb. 11 and has been focused on recruiting members and growing the chapter.
“We have been tapping into LMU faculty and staff, and resources to rebuild the chapter from the ground up,” said Vaughn.
For Vaughn the motivation to bring back PRSSA came out of a desire to revive the club. This made the task of reinstating the group less daunting and more tangible. The professional benefits of the club were another motivator. The networking opportunities provided by the club allow students to gain further insight on different branches of Public Relations and make strong connections in the field for potential internships and jobs. These points convinced Vaughn, but another reason made this task more personal.
“I kind of just wanted to start something on my own, prove to myself that I could, and put myself out of my comfort zone,” said Vaughn.
The chapter’s absence was mainly due to requirements not being met, including the need for a full-time Public Relations professor to oversee the club.
“We got lucky with Professor Kai Prins being new full-time and teaching PR,” said Vaughn.
Students interested in joining PRSSA can join next semester. The chapter is open to students interested in Public Relations, Communication, and related fields.
