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National Spotlight: MSU student group honored with Pacesetter Award

The Mississippi State University Public Relations Student Society of America chapter is receiving national recognition this spring—securing second place in the prestigious PRSSA Pacesetter Award for commitment to excellence in leadership, professional development and community engagement.

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CO Connection: Laken Laird

Mississippi State University's Broadcast & Digital Journalism Instructor Victoria Bailey interviews Laken Laird, who reflects on her early time as a Mississippi State University student, transitioning into public relations, and her current role as a graduate assistant to the award-winning student-led newscast, Take 30 News. Laken is also an instructor and works on Ph.D.-level courses. Laird is also the Communication Department's Graduate Assistant of the Year for 2024. Laird offers advice to journalism and PR students ahead of graduation. Laken also discusses how communication, accepting all challenges, and storytelling are vital to any profession.

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MSU shines at public relations Lantern Award ceremony

Mississippi State University faculty, staff and students brought home top awards at the recent Southern Public Relations Federation Lantern Awards ceremony in Biloxi. The Lantern Awards annually recognize outstanding public relations achievements across Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle.

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CO Connection: Katie Corban

Mississippi State University Department of Communication Head, Dr. Terry Likes, interviews CO alumnae, Katie Corban, the MSU Associate Director for Career Services and Programs. Corban discusses the vital role Career Services can play as students seek employment after graduation. Corban studied Public Relations as an undergraduate, holds a Masters’ degree in Counselor Education, and has won several awards for her work on campus including the Zacharias Distinguished Staff Award.

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Dr. Terri Hernandez part of research group selected for NSF grant

A Mississippi State University research team is using nearly $300,000 from the National Science Foundation to study the intersection of human emotions, information spread and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, a project that could inform future health policies.

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Public relations students represent MSU on Homecoming Court

Mississippi State students have chosen a new group of Bulldog royalty to represent the university in its 2023 Homecoming Court, which will be presented formally during halftime of the MSU vs. University of Kentucky football game Saturday [Nov. 4] at 6:30 p.m.

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Fisher featured in A&S Faculty Book Talk Series

Dr. Melody Fisher, an associate professor in Public Relations, will be featured at the MSU Faculty Book Talk series Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the Grisham Room at the Mitchell Memorial Library. The book talk is to highlight academic books written by the MSU faculty. Melody’s book, “The Untold Power: Underrepresented Groups in Public Relations” will be read aloud and have a book signing.

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Faculty members, PRISM students win SPRF Awards

Two Communication faculty members won several awards at the Southern Public Relations Federation Conference for their work with the MSU College of Arts & Sciences. Public Relations students also won multiple awards for their work with various organizations.

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Communication student, Rayborn, helps increase trafficking awareness

“Barbie” movie extra. International magazine and runway model. World traveler. Communication and philosophy student at Mississippi State University. Rayborn, an MSU junior and native of Brandon majoring in Communication and Philosophy, is using her talents to build a nationwide platform for human trafficking awareness.

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Dr. Uyanga Bazaa presents "Conceptual Definition, Operationalization, and Factors of Value Perspective"

Assistant Communication Professor Dr. Bazaa presented her paper titled "Conceptual Definition, Operationalization, and Factors of Value Perspective" at the 73rd International Communication Association's Annual Conference that will be held between May 25 and 29, 2023. Her presentation explores value congruence, as an antecedent of the organization-public relationships, benefits from a valid measurement scale to predict quality relationships between organizations and the public.

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CO Connection: Bethany Shipp

Mississippi State University's Department of Communication Head Dr. Terry Likes interviews Bethany Shipp, Marketing and Communication Coordinator for MSU’s Office of Public Affairs. Shipp discusses her varied career path from her days from MSU as an undergraduate student, to working at Disney in Orlando, to the world of Public Relations. Shipp also discusses her love of dance to her leadership role with the PR Association of MS-Starkville chapter.

Image Alternative Text: 2023 PRAM Student of the Year & Outstanding Student

Communication students sweep PRAM Awards, Faculty also win PRism awards

At the April Public Relations Association of Mississippi annual conference, MSU swept most categories, with MSU senior communication and philosophy major Zoie Henson from Philadelphia winning PRAM Student of the Year, and MSU senior communication major Reagan Young from Chelsea, AL, winning PRAM Outstanding PR Student.

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Dr. Uyanga Bazaa & co-authors publish article in Health Communication

Assistant Communication Professor Dr. Uyanga Bazaa and co-authors published #EndtheSTIgma: An Exploratory Analysis of the 2019 HPV Awareness Day Conversation on Twitter & Instagram in the April Health Communication journal. The current study explores the risk communication conversations on Twitter and Instagram in the context of the 2019 HPV Awareness Day, through the theoretical lenses of the stigma associated with HPV, HPV-related cancer, and the HPV vaccine.

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Dr. Melody Fisher presents at 2023 PRAM conference

Associate Communication Professor Dr. Melody Fisher presented "Blurred Lines: Public Relations Ethics" at the 2023 annual PRAM conference. This interactive presentation took a case study approach to address public relations ethical dilemmas. Attendees learned best practices to maintain the integrity of the public relations profession and become responsible advocates for their organization and clients.

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Christie Jones Lawrence wins 2023 PRAM Professional Achievement Award

The Public Relations Association of Mississippi honored the achievements of Mississippi’s best public relations professionals and students during their annual awards ceremony last week. The awards recognize outstanding work by Mississippians in the field of public relations and celebrate select individuals for their contributions to the profession. Christie Lawrence, President of Surge Advisors and past president of the Starkville-MSU Chapter is the 2023 PRAM Professional Achievement Award winner, the state’s top honor recognizing excellence in public relations.