As the faculty advisor for the University of St. Thomas PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) chapter, I am incredibly proud of our students and the meaningful work they accomplished throughout the Fall semester of 2025. This semester reflected a strong commitment to professional development, leadership, and community building, all driven by an enthusiastic and dedicated Executive Board. Led by President Luke Velte, the E-Board also included Co-Vice Presidents Emmy Schulz and Morgan Hanson, Social Media Coordinator Mackenzie Erickson, Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator Julia Flanagan, and Representatives Caroline Turnbull and Alexa Kamish. Their initiative and teamwork shaped a semester full of high-impact learning opportunities for members.
PRSSA hosted five guest speaker sessions that exposed students to a broad range of professional pathways. The semester began with Darryl Sellers, Media Relations and Communications Leader, who shared actionable guidance on writing strong resumes and entering the communications industry with confidence. Next, alumna Hope Hansen, Assistant Account Executive at Bellmont Partners, returned to campus to discuss the transition from college to agency life and offer practical advice for navigating early career stages. Arik Hanson, Independent Social Media Consultant and Digital Marketing Expert, led a session on building a personal brand and standing out as a young professional. Retired Minnesota Senator Susan Kent offered a wide-ranging look at how communications expertise translates across agency, legislative, and nonprofit roles. Finally, Andrea Gribble, Founder and CEO working in social media for K–12 education, shared her entrepreneurial journey and the evolving landscape of communications in schools.
Overall, Fall 2025 was a semester defined by professionalism as well as student-driven momentum. Through these events, PRSSA continued to enhance students’ professional readiness and foster meaningful connections between coursework and real-world practice.
My ten and a half years as a professor in the Emerging Media department at the University of St Thomas has been one of the most defining periods of my career. I’d already been teaching for 12 years when I joined St Thomas, so knew how much I enjoyed helping and interacting with students. What I didn’t realize at the time was how much support I would get in return from my department and colleagues. Thanks to departmental professional development funds, I have participated in domestic and international conferences and festivals where I have held workshops, given presentations, and performed music. These experiences allowed me to share new ideas, techniques, and skills with my students in the classroom.
Dr. Yayu Feng has been appointed to the Society of Professional Journalists’ 
This semester, Emerging Media welcomed its newest faculty member, Dr. Lana Medina.
Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication April Eichmeier was awarded the 2025 Undergraduate Research Award for Faculty, which is given annually to a faculty member who demonstrates commitment to forging student-faculty research collaborations.
As I conclude my time at the University of St. Thomas, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Emerging Media community. Working with our wonderful students and dedicated colleagues over the past two years has been a meaningful experience.