Hofstra students were invited to attend the Public Relations Student Society of America’s annual Spring Networking Event to meet professionals in the industry. // Photo Courtesy of Jon Colato.
On March 31, the Hofstra University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosted their annual PRSSA Spring Networking Event in the Student Center Multipurpose Room. The event was open to all students, regardless of if they were a public relations major or not.
Jeffrey Morosoff, chair of the journalism, media studies and public relations department at Hofstra and PRSSA’s faculty advisor, said that associating with PRSSA can be beneficial for student’s careers.
“When students get involved with a group like PRSSA, it opens doors to networking with professionals that they wouldn’t have available to them otherwise,” Morosoff said. “And I can tell you from experience and having done this for 12 years, it’s the students who are involved with PRSSA who get the good jobs and get the good internships.”
To kick off the event, Allie Millette, president of PRSSA, began with a speech thanking those who assisted in making the event possible, including the E-board, Professor Morosoff and the professionals that attended.
Throughout the event, students were also encouraged to get punch cards that they had received at the door stamped to enter a raffle to win a sticker or a T-shirt. Event participants also had the chance to pose for free headshots.
The PRSSA event gave students interested in public relations the opportunity to network with professionals in the industry. At this year’s fair, nine public relations professionals and four student organizations attended to talk to students about their professional careers.
“I hope [students] realize that, you know, especially in a post-pandemic world, how important it is to have face-to-face communication with professionals,” said Daniella Coletti, an account executive at Interdependence Public Relations and Hofstra alum. “Because you’re going to be professional yourself within the next couple of years or a year or even less.”
Students were also encouraged to bring their resumes to the event. From simply talking and reviewing resumes to internship and career inquiries, the event was able to accommodate students at every level.
“Tonight is only the start,” Millette said. “You spark the connection here and then you kind of keep it going, whether that be through LinkedIn or through checking back on the professional and seeing what’s going on in their life so that they can also see what’s going on in your life and then keep an eye on you for when you do enter the professional industry.”
Five out of the nine professionals that attended are Hofstra alums. Professor Morosoff said their return is his favorite part of events like these.
“This is one of the most rewarding experiences I have at Hofstra when alumni come back, former students who are now successful PR professionals, and they’re sharing their knowledge and their expertise and their experiences with our students who will someday be one of them,” Morosoff said.
At each table, students were able to ask questions, discuss opportunities and learn more about having a career in public relations.
“I want people to always feel empowered to ask questions about things, and that’s the way I’ve always been taught here at Hofstra because I think it’s really nice that students have the opportunity to ask questions and talk,” Colletti said.
For Alana Zimon, a sophomore drama and public relations major, this event was an opportunity to become more comfortable with public relations and networking.
“This was my first networking event, and I think it was such a success,” Zimon said. “I’ve met so many amazing people. And I know that I’m going to have these connections for the rest of my time here at Hofstra. I think [the event] is going to make sure that I’m more and more comfortable to keep doing networking and meeting new people.”
