One Advertising and One Public Relations Student Chosen for the ADPR Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship

The ADPR department stands by its students. Because of this willingness to support and provide, there were two students selected for the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. This scholarship seeks to increase diversity and inclusion in the fields of advertising and public relations by providing scholarships to eligible undergraduate students at the University of Georgia who exhibit dedication to diversity through experience, initiative and creativity. Two $1,000 scholarships are being awarded: one for an Advertising major and one for a Public Relations major.

The advertising major selected for the scholarship is Stephanie Addo. Stephanie has built a creative portfolio, and has been involved in The Talking Dog and the University Union Programming Board. She answered the following questions about her recognition, her time at UGA and her future.

What work have you done outside the classroom to be recognized for this award?

After receiving acceptance into the Grady College of Journalism of Mass Communication during Spring 2015 I jump started my academic advertising career with a summer program. For 8 weeks I attended the Creative Circus portfolio school in Atlanta where I immersed myself in all things advertising and all things creative. I practiced my idea, strategy development, and research skills by creating campaigns for many diverse brands. I attained art direction knowledge through projects involving layout, color, content, typography, and studio photoshoots. I also learned the Adobe Creative Suite where I created graphic content, spreads, and photography edits. Returning back to UGA this 2015-2016 school year I knew I wanted to apply of the knowledge I learned over the summer and fine tune my skills. Through student organizations, internships, and freelance work I kept my hands busy creating. I scored an internship with HW Creative Marketing in downtown Athens as a Graphic Design intern for Fall 2015. I joined the student run advertising Agency, The Talking Dog, as an art director for White Tiger Gourmet and the University Union Programming Board as a graphic designer. And I sought out freelance work for clients such as iTeam Ghana to have more practice and build my portfolio. 

What are your career aspirations?

I hope to use my creative ventures and apply them to a career as an art director or experiential marketer and eventually start my own company. Whatever field I find myself in, I want to create content that moves people. 

What are you going to be doing this summer?

I have not finalized my summer plans yet, but keeping my fingers crossed for an awesome internship!

The public relations major selected for the scholarship is Daniella Ramirez. Daniella has served in organizations such as the Residence Hall Association, PRSSA, Dawg Camp and The Arch Society. She goes on to answer the following questions about her involvement and successes.

What work have you done outside the classroom to be recognized for this award?

While I do believe that my achievements played a role in receiving the scholarship, it would be unfair for me to cite any accomplishments as the reason why I was recognized for this award. Above all, I credit my environment as the main reason for my extracurricular involvement. My arrival to UGA provided me with an environment that encouraged careful examination of all parts of my identity and personal story in order to better understand who I am, what I am passionate about, and how both intersect. This journey has brought me to serve organizations such as the Residence Hall Association, PRSSA, Dawg Camp and The Arch Society. My position as a student and membership in each of these organizations has allowed me hone my communications skills, explore different pockets of campus, and create relationships with people I now consider family, who guide and support me in everything I do. If I had to pin point or offer any source or reasoning as to why I've been chosen for any type of recognition, I would have to say that ultimately it all goes back to this place and its people.

What are your career aspirations?

My studies and involvement have allowed me to realize that the term "public relations" in practice, can embody hundreds of different definitions. I believe that at its core, public relations is field driven by authenticity and characterized by intentionality and flexibility. The application of PR efforts look very different at every point of practice, making it a dynamic field that not only speaks to, but is directly fueled by varied experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. As such, I believe that it is fundamental for the field to nurture a diverse taskforce, one that fosters and retains professionals with distinct perceptions. This belief is what leads me to want to pursue a role in Human Resources within the tech industry managing employee relations and moral. I love the tech industry because it combines innovation, design, and creativity to impact the way people live their lives around the world. With this in mind, I aspire to use my communications background and other experiences to help elevate diversity and inclusion efforts within the industry in order to make the industry all the more purposeful in serving all segments in an equal and truly representative manner. 

What are you going to be doing this summer?

I'll be spending my last summer in undergrad here in the Classic City! I'll be working at the Office of Development and Alumni Relations as a communications intern, and serving in my role as Director of Media and Operations for Dawg Camp. As the official extended orientation program for incoming students at UGA, Dawg Camp hosts programs throughout the summer that focus on providing students with a foundation for a successful college experience. I am incredibly excited to be working alongside the rest of my executive board and program counselors to welcome the Class of 2020 to our institution! In my role specifically, I'll be putting together print, visual and electronic communication materials for orientation fairs, parent info sessions, camps, and social media along with coordinating logistical efforts to frame the Dawg Camp experience for our participants. I can't get enough of this place and I'm ready for one last adventure before senior year with some of my best friends, working towards a goal and mission that impacts the place we call home and the people we consider family.  

It's been such an honor to celebrate these ladies who represent the AdPR department so well. Thank you for all you do, Stephanie and Daniella, and congratulations on your scholarship!

Talking Dog team helps Athens salon spread "beauty with a purpose"

Talking Dog, a student-run advertising agency at UGA, is helping Athens salon City Salon and Spa tap into the college market and create more meaningful relationships with their existing clients.

The team members are Braxton Bodenhamer (Copywriter), Chandler Rumsey (Account Executive), Arturo Rodriguez (Art Director), Lauren Klopfenstein (Strategic Planner), Hayley Hinson (Assistant Account Executive) and Channing Jones (Talking Dog Executive Board Member).

City Salon and Spa logo

The team’s primary goal is to assist City Salon with spreading the message, “beauty with a purpose”.

The salon seeks to not only give their clients amazing service and beautiful results, but also wishes to educate clients and staff members, so that they can make themselves feel beautiful at all times.

So far, the team members have helped to brainstorm, organize and schedule City Salon’s social media content as well as establish and promote City Salon Workshops, consisting of beauty lessons on how to have the salon look anytime. They’ve also encouraged the salon to reach out to college students through sorority visits.

In addition, the team collaborated with fellow Talking Dog team, Treehouse Crafts, to promote a Valentine’s Day workshop where moms and daughters learned hair tips and craft hair accessories. To help promote, the creative team put together print and web flyers and video for social media (pictured below).

The experience has been a learning experience for the team members.

“[It] has been beneficial for every member of our team,” Rumsey says. “It is a real life advertising experience that has given us concrete work to add to our portfolios. We’ve also worked well as a team and grasped what it means to wear the hat of an account manager, strategic planner, art director and copywriter. Part of the reason why our team has meshed well is because we’re hungry for experience while having realistic expectations when it comes to meeting deadlines. We’ve created a lot of great work and there’s still plenty more to come!”

AdPR Student Spotlight: Lindsey Gaff

Ad major Lindsey Gaff

Lindsey Gaff is a senior advertising major from Milner, Ga. 

What encouraged you to apply to Grady College?  

When I got into UGA, I knew I wanted to do something creative. To me, getting a degree in advertising was the best way to balance creativity and practicality.  

What activities are you involved in at Grady/UGA/Athens?

The greater part of my time was spent on the executive board for UGA Ad Club. As the VP or Membership, I was responsible for coming up with ways to promote the club and increase membership. Currently I am involved with UGA’s student-run ad agency, Talking Dog. As the copywriter, I work with my team to produce materials for our client, Athens Food Tours. 

I also studied advertising in France this summer with other UGA students at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

What kinds of internships or work have you been involved in, and what were your responsibilities? (If you haven't been involved in internships or work, you can mention activity experience)

My first internship with the Downtown Development Authority in Monroe, Georgia was focused on marketing and social media. I was responsible for getting the word out about downtown events through the website, print and social media platforms and monitoring the effectiveness of those vehicles. 

I also worked at The UGA Ramsey Center for over two years as a facility manager. I was responsible for the staff on shift as well as ensuring a pleasant and safe environment for patrons. 

Since July, I have worked as an intern for The Adsmith, an advertising and design agency in Athens. In the spring, I will continue writing copy, brainstorming campaign and design ideas, and creating content for social media. 

What were the best parts of these experiences? 

Each of these experiences (as well as others) has been extremely gratifying in its own way. I think though, overall, the best part of these experiences was learning to think for myself. In each of these positions I’ve had to challenge myself to think critically and creatively to solve problems. It’s amazing what we are capable of when we’re challenged on a regular basis.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your internship or work experiences?

The classes that have been most meaningful to me were Message Strategy with Dr. Roushansamir, Global Advertising with Dr. Kim, and Advertising Management with Mr. McCreery. Message strategy taught me the value of the creative process and working on a strict deadline. Global advertising opened my eyes to the various cultures and consumer perceptions worldwide. Management was extremely beneficial in teaching me the overall process of advertising in the context of marketing. Each of these teachers invested in me as a student and increased my understanding of and passion for the industry significantly.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering pursuing an Ad/PR program? 

Let your passion shine through in your essay! It’s a part of the application that goes much deeper than your GPA.

What are your career goals and interests? 

I aim to get a job in the creative sector of advertising, preferably as a copywriter or a planner at a small agency. I am pursuing jobs in Atlanta, as well as other cities in the U.S. and am very excited about the possibility of a career outside of Georgia. 

AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Rebecca Hoerner

Rebecca Hoerner

Rebecca Hoerner, an advertising major and participant in the New Media certificate, is from Newnan. She graduated in Spring 2013.

What encouraged you to apply to Grady College?  

I toured UGA as a junior in high school and fell in love with the campus; I saw myself doing well at UGA. I was pretty set on getting into the Advertising program because Grady is one of the top Communications colleges in the country. I knew a degree from Grady would offer me a diverse range of opportunities.  

What activities are you involved in at Grady/UGA/Athens?

I am currently the VP of Educational Programming for AdClub, the Webmaster for University Union Student Programming Board, and Account Executive of the Olivia Anne Hellwig Foundation through Talking Dog. I just finished up an exclusive project with six of my lovely Grady peers for PHD NY on Millennial insights and media habits. In Athens, I volunteer with the Athens Area Humane Society and HandsOn Northeast Georgia.

What kinds of internships have you been involved in, and what were your responsibilities?

Last summer I interned at Amsterdam Worldwide in The Netherlands as an Account Management Intern. I assisted in the launch of the social music application, NightTag, for Istanbul, Turkey. I conducted competitive research for current clients and new business pitches and assisted with organizing presentations for client meetings and internal projects such as Scalpel (Pernod Ricard). I was also responsible for gathering media/PR clippings to show campaign progress to clients

What were the best parts of your internship experiences?

Amsterdam Worldwide is in Amsterdam-Centrum, so I had an amazing time exploring every day after work. The agency is international, so I was surrounded by so many amazing people from different countries and definitely learned a lot about different cultures and languages. I was a part of so much interesting work and I got to learn a lot about the clients and specific markets and aid anyone in the agency with insights and research. The agency also had a garden out back, so we would have drinks in the garden (on a pretty regular basis) to celebrate new client pitches and just as a break from working so hard.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) will you always remember?

I love AdClub and will always remember it as a weekly gathering of my favorite ad nerds. I think the PHD project will stick with me forever because it was a 6-month project and I was able to work closely with Dr. King and 6 brilliant Grady students. I will always remember Dr. Reichert because he fostered the relationship with Amsterdam Worldwide, accompanied our PHD group to New York, and encouraged me in a lot of my Grady endeavors.  

What advice would you give to someone who is considering pursuing an Ad/PR program?

I would say go for it because I think the AdPR department has the most encouraging and intelligent faculty and offers an incredible range of opportunities for its students. Grady AdPR definitely takes care of students who are willing to work hard. I personally think Grady AdPR is the best program at UGA, especially for someone who wants a challenge and is willing to seize opportunities.  

What are your career goals and interests?

I am very interested in Strategy (digital and traditional), Account Planning and Account Management positions and I am looking at New York City as well as internationally for job opportunities.  In my career, my goal is to work in international markets and I am excited to see where life takes me.

ADPR Internship Spotlight: Channing Jones

Channing Jones

Channing Jones, a junior majoring in marketing and advertising, is from Atlanta. 

Where did you work? This past summer, I was the Marketing & PR Intern for Lovell Communications, a firm that specializes in marketing, public relations, and crisis management in Nashville, TN.

What were your responsibilities? The assignments ranged from responding to ProfNet queries (from PR Newswire), research and media/social media monitoring, using Cision and MyEmma software, handling a social media account, and posting and authoring posts for the company blog. I also had the opportunity to meet with clients and participate in brainstorming sessions for businesses, primarily in the healthcare industry.

What valuable information or skills have you learned at your internship?
I learned so much valuable information from my internship at Lovell, I actually wrote a letter to their future intern with some tips! My experience highlighted the importance of prioritization and time management: it is critical to understand what projects are time-sensitive and to work your to-do list in order of priority.

What activities are you involved in at Grady/UGA? I am currently the Professional Programming Chair for the UGA AdClub and schedule professional speakers in varied advertising and new media backgrounds. I also work with the VP to plan two
Atlanta agency tours for the club each semester with three agencies that vary in specialization and scope. I am the Account Executive on the PHIL account with Talking Dog, Grady’s student-run ad agency, responsible for facilitating group collaboration as well as overseeing the development of marketing objectives and tactical executions of promotional pieces. I feel fortunate to have been selected and paired with a professional mentor via the Atlanta Broadcast Advertising Club and Alliance for Women
in Media in a mentorship program for Grady students. I also volunteer weekly with UGA Newsource, the student-run daily broadcast news segment on campus, and I have served as a mentor with Shop with a Bulldawg (SWAB) for the past two years.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in
your internship? All of my advertising and marketing classes prepared me for my internship because I was familiar with industry jargon and was also aware of emerging media trends. Semester projects like developing a creative plans book and pitching an actual client in Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh-Hutchinson’s Advertising Message Strategy class provided me with insight into the agency-client relationship and a comprehensive understanding of campaign development.

What was the best part of your internship experience? I was treated like an employee at Lovell and given assignments that really allowed me to leverage my writing skills and creativity. I was given billable work and gained much of my marketing and public
relations insights through osmosis. Living in Nashville pushed me outside my comfort zone, and I had the opportunity to spend my summer with some really talented professionals.

What are your career goals? This summer, I hope to obtain an internship in marketing and/or advertising. I am very interested in account management on the agency side of advertising and am determined to pursue opportunities in both Atlanta and New York.