By Jamie Atkinson

The University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosted their 3rd Annual “Find Your Niche” event at Hofstra USA on Wednesday.

The event invited current members of the industry from six different sectors to speak to students about their experience and specialized information about their field.

In a two-and-a-half-hour program, students paid a three-dollar admission before the event and five dollars at the door to meet and greet professionals from the beauty, government, sports, non-profit, music and entertainment areas of public relations. A round-robin style allowed participants to choose two speakers to meet with in small groups and ask questions about working in their specific area, advice for job hunting and general inquiries about the field. After approximately half an hour, the audience rotated. PRSSA provided snacks as well as beverages for their guests.

Guest speakers included Tom Gwynne, vice president of programs at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Lulu Cohen, owner of a self-titled entertainment consulting company, Jessica Forman, a real estate public relations person for Quinn & Co., Kristin Giarrusso, Assistant Marketing Manager for Kiss Productions, Charo Ezdrin, Director of Government Relations for Nassau County, and Chris Heck, Marketing Coordinator at 1050 ESPN Radio in New York.

PRSSA has 90 members out of 250 public relations majors currently participating in the club. Members pay a $55 fee. Previous “Find Your Niche” events drew crowds of from approximately 40 to 100 people, despite this year’s crowd drawing around 35 students. PRSSA puts on several events a semester including a “Networking Dinner,” that hosted approximately 85 industry professionals and students.

“I think I really learned a lot and it definitely broadened my horizons in the entertainment sector of public relations,” said Heather Glazewski, a sophomore PRSSA member who attended the event. “Next year I’d really like to see more diversity in the speakers and more people attending.”

“The people we have here are extremely accomplished,” said Laura Newman, a senior who serves as the co-vice president of fundraising, who helped plan the event along with the president, Rebecca Bellush, and Deena Kimball. vice president of recruitment and retainment. “I just wish more students knew how important what they have to say is.”