AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Austin McDonnell

Austin McDonnell at graduation
December 2013

Austin McDonnell recently accepted an offer to work at Grey New York as an Assistant Account Executive on the CoverGirl account.

What was your major and when did you graduate?  

I graduated in December 2013 and received Bachelor’s degrees in advertising and french.

What activities were you involved while in Grady/UGA?  

While at UGA I was a UGA HEROs Team Leader and PR Committee member, AdClub member, served as VP of Public Relations for Delta Delta Delta, and interned for Barberitos Franchising in their marketing department.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

I’ve held four different advertising internship positions and knew that I wanted to work with a larger agency in another city. My sights were originally set on Chicago, but I established great connections with Grady alumni who accepted jobs in New York. Maintaining these relationships and reaching out to other UGA alums at ad agencies was one of the smartest moves I made over the course of my job search. We have an incredible alumni network! I began my job search early with informational interviews and kept in touch with HR leading up to position openings.

What is your day-to-day like at your job? (Any interesting projects that you can share with us?)

Stay tuned...

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today?  

During my final semester, I took a course called Digital and Social Strategy, which I believe to be one of the most useful ad classes I took over the course of my time at UGA. The course taught us about SEO, SEM, metrics, community management, and other elements of digital advertising. Dr. Lin provided case studies of current social media campaigns for our class to discuss and analyze, which was something I continued to do after graduation. Analyzing different campaigns was a go-to question in almost every interview!

What is your favorite Grady memory?

One of my favorite Grady memories was participating in the Chicago Advertising Agency Tour in the fall of my junior year. The trip allowed us to rub elbows with professionals in media, creative, accounts, and production. It was fantastic exposure and gave a holistic view of the advertising landscape.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

Take advantage of advertising and PR opportunities as a student! Participate in AdClub or PRSSA. Join marketing or PR philanthropy committees. Find an off campus organization or company to volunteer or intern with. It’s important to see how what you’re learning in the classroom is actually applied! Get your hands dirty and gain experience. Be a sponge and ask questions. Be patient but persistent. My final piece of advice: never underestimate the power of a hand written thank you note.

AdPR student spotlight: Rance Nix

Rance Nix

Rance Nix, a junior studying advertising and music business, is from Atlanta. 

What encouraged you to apply to Grady College? Initially I wanted to be a marketing major with the Terry College of business. However, after reflecting on what I was truly passionate about I decided to apply to Grady College. Now, as an advertising major I am loving all of my classes and I am learning more and more each day. 

What activities are you involved in at Grady/UGA/Athens? Here at UGA I am an SGA Senator and Student Representative on the University Council. Both positions have been great opportunities to articulate the views and opinions of the student body and to improve the student experience here at the University of Georgia. I also emcee numerous events on campus for Greek organizations, UGA H.E.R.O.s, and Shop with a Bulldawg. I love hosting and helping the organizations put on successful events. 

What kinds of internships have you been involved in, and what were your responsibilities? I have not had any internship experience yet. However, I was offered an internship with BBDO Atlanta for this summer. I will be working in the Account Management department and I am really excited to work with one of the best ad agencies in the world.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your internship or work experiences? My classes and professors have been extremely helpful as I start my post-college career. All of my advertising classes and Grady College electives are equipping me with the right knowledge and skills to do well outside of school. Moreover, my professors have not only been teachers, but also amazing mentors.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering pursuing an Ad/PR program? If one of the Ad/PR programs is something that you want to pursue, do it! From my introductory classes to my major classes, I've loved it.

What are your career goals and interests?  After I graduate next May I hope to work in advertising. I would also like to be an actor. I enjoy being on stage hosting events and making videos for my friends and fellow students to enjoy. I hope that eventually I can reach an even bigger audience on television or in movies. Either way, whether through advertising or acting, I want to be a positive influence and inspiration to every person that encounters me. 

UGA's PRSSA hosts third "PR Workout" to benefit campus organizations

On Saturday, January 28th, PRSSA hosted its third annual PR Workout, a conference aimed at teaching student leaders how to implement effective PR strategies in their organizations. PRSSA wanted to serve the UGA community by sharing its PR knowledge and expertise with fellow student organizations. At this year's event, PRSSA members led five informational sessions in the following subject areas: Event Planning and Fundraising, Media Relations, Social Media, Member Recruitment and Campus Legalities. Over 28 student leaders attended the conference and learned how to improve their organizations' communication efforts. Whether they learned the ins and outs of Twitter or the secret to pitching a press release, attendees walked away with something.

Not only did PR Workout serve as an educational opportunity for individuals, but the student leaders also benefited from networking. Many organizations were represented, from the Asian Children Mentoring Program to the UGA HEROs organization. In additiona, attendees discussed issues with each other, offered solutions to others' problems and asked session leaders for their input. Overall, this event was another success for PRSSA and UGA's students orgranizations. A big thanks goes out to the PRSSA Diversity Committee for coordinating PR Workout 2012.