Alumni Spotlight
Paige Robertson

By Abby Zuppa, public relations student and departmental PR intern

Paige Robertson received her Bachelor of Arts in communication with concentrations in public relations and communications management from Mississippi State in 2014. 

Robertson is originally from Waynesboro but now resides in Hattiesburg where she serves as the Director of Communications and Digital Strategies for the Hattiesburg Tourism Commission in which she just celebrated her seventh year of work. 

Robertson said her job is use online platforms to tell Hattiesburg stories in an interesting way that invites visitors to explore the city.

“Our overall mission is to get visitors to Hattiesburg.” Robertson said. “I’m doing that through our website, through PR efforts, social media, advertising and video production.”

When asked what class at MSU has helped her the most in her current career, Robertson said Media Writing and News Writing and Reporting without hesitation. 

“The news writing course and learning what was expected out of a news release, how to write it, how to write AP style, all of that. You have no idea how much that has changed, or how much that has influenced my career,” Robertson said. “Learning how to interact with the media and providing for them is probably one of the most valuable things that I use every single day in my career.”

What is your favorite communications class you took and why?

Nonverbal communication with Dr. Nicholson. I think it’s such an important skill to have, to be able to read nonverbal communication and to have an entire course dedicated to that, where you can really dig in and think about what you’re saying and how you’re presenting yourself. I think that was probably one of the classes I got to nerd out the most in.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from the Communications Department?

There is no such thing as no communication. That has always stuck with me and it ties back to my interest in non verbal communication because that is a true form of communication. 

What is your favorite memory as a student at MSU?

My friend group liked to go see the Lab Rats Comedy show. We never missed a show. I loved how it was such a unique experience on campus that kind of felt like you were in the know, and it was very inviting to everyone.