Written by: Tiffany Westry
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Senior Briana Bryant of Los Angeles, California, is one of fewer than 20 students selected to serve as regional ambassadors for the Public Relations Student Society of America. Bryant is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication with a concentration in public relations in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences.
“We are very proud of Briana,” said Jacquelyn Shaia, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the UAB Public Relations program. “Public relations is a very intense and challenging field, particularly in today's fast-paced environment. Her appointment will give her an excellent opportunity to work with many other professionals while representing UAB from a national perspective.”
PRSSA is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications, made up of more than 10,000 students and advisers organized into 300-plus chapters in the United States, Argentina, Colombia and Peru. 2017 marks the first year for the Regional Ambassador Program.
“As a regional ambassador, my focus will be to foster relationships among student chapters and PRSSA,” Bryant said. “Public relations is all about building relationships. Serving in the role will help me enhance my education and broaden my professional network — key elements to launching a successful career in public relations. It’s an honor to be a part of a team of trailblazers, and I think the project will present opportunities that I honestly never expected I’d get to see.”
Regional ambassadors will serve as liaisons between chapter presidents and the organization’s national committee. The ambassadors will ensure chapter information is up-to-date, discuss their needs and recommend appropriate resources, and serve as regional leaders in facilitating regional chapter collaboration.
“I’m most looking forward to building up our student members and bridging the gaps between the other programs in our area,” Bryant said. “Each chapter is working hard to accomplish its specific goals every day. It’s exciting to think about what we can accomplish by working together. I am honored to represent UAB at the PRSSA national level among such an esteemed organization of budding professionals.”
Bryant serves as UAB PRSSA/PRCA chapter vice president and volunteers as an adventure trip leader for the UAB Campus Recreation Center, a program that gives students the opportunity to experience the outdoors through recreational trips throughout the United States that include activities such as biking, rock climbing and hiking.