During the 2019-2020 school year, I served as the first Director of Diversity & Inclusion for Temple University Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

"Temple PRSSA has recently established the role of the Director of Diversity & Inclusion to ensure no prospective student feels underrepresented or alienated. Temple’s chapter plans to implement diversity initiatives, celebrate its representation across social media, and work to bring in guest speakers who represent the diverse world practitioners live in today.

The findings and research from Temple University’s 2019 Bateman Competition team show students of different backgrounds felt a lack of representation within Temple PRSSA, which can cause discomfort and stress when joining the chapter. By collaborating with other D&I organizations, creating workshops, and implementing racial bias training, Temple PRSSA hopes to alleviate any uneasiness prospective members may have about PRSSA while educating current members on the importance of D&I initiatives in today’s workforce.

Temple PRSSA’s goal is to pledge its support to diversity & inclusion by cultivating an environment in which all members feel welcome. Temple’s student body has always been unique, ever-growing and beautifully diverse and the Temple PRSSA believes its chapter should reflect it."

Diversity & Inclusion Workshops

for Temple PRSSA

Workshop #1: Finding Your Place in the PR Industry

Two of my mentors became the speakers for my first diversity & inclusion-focused workshop for Temple PRSSA. The goal of this workshop was to help students consider their true goals and fit within the public relations industry. We discussed workplace behaviors, the difference between agency and in-house, and different niches for different people.

Workshop #2: Curating a Closet on a College Student's Budget

In collaboration with a professor, this was the second successful workshop I created for Temple PRSSA. The goal of this workshop was to break the idea that professional dressing has one look or style. The fashion show showcased several tips for fashion workplace etiquette as well as student’s personalized professional looks while managing a balance between comfortability and appropriateness.

Workshop PowerPoint

Celeste Rosato, the president of Temple Ad Club (TAC) at the time, and I, teamed up to plan a diversity & inclusion panel, where we would invite professionals in Philly to be panelists for the event. Unfortunately, COVID-19 threw a hurdle at us and we thought our plans had been ruined — until we came to the realization that technology had our backs.

We decided to have our organizations team up to co-host an online, virtual panel discussion over Zoom, regarding D&I in the advertising and PR fields. We wanted to be an ally and a safe space for students who experience marginalization (or don’t) and give them the opportunity to join this open discussion.

This became an opportunity for our diverse students to connect on a deeper level by having panelists lead discussions about how to best support and empower students, celebrate their identities, and provide guidance on how to navigate these fields as a diverse advertising or PR practitioner.

Before we had planned to invite professionals from only the Philly area to make attendance more convenient for everyone — with a virtual panel over Zoom, we were able to invite professionals from around the country, in places such as Miami.