On Thursday, October 23, the Kean Public Relations Student Society (PRSSA) and Kean Association of Marketing (KAM) teamed up to host their very first collaborative networking panel in the Cougar's Den, titled Behind the Buzz: Careers in PR & Marketing. The event brought students together for an afternoon of insight, connection, and career inspiration.
Four industry professionals—Associate Marketing Professor Min Chung Han, CMO of GumGum Kerel Cooper, CEO of Social Wise Communications Tara Ackaway, and Vice President of Coyne PR Jaclyn Laspata—came to share their career journeys, answer student questions, and offer candid advice on navigating the evolving fields of public relations and marketing.
This event marked a major milestone for PRSSA, which officially launched as a campus organization this semester. The group has worked tirelessly to establish its presence and create meaningful opportunities for students in the Communications department.
Caroline Pease, President of PRSSA, Senior, and Communications PR major from Scranton, PA, commented on this moment of triumph for her organization.
“This event felt like a full circle moment for all of us,” Pease said. “Having a full room and active members felt so validating to our work.... Partnering with a well-established organization like KAM was a great way to further our presence.”
PRSSA’s revival was driven by student leadership and personal connections. Pease and the rest of the group’s executive board worked throughout the semester to secure panelists, including Ackaway—Pease's former internship supervisor—and Laspata, a Kean alum and founding member of the original PRSSA chapter.
The Kean Association of Marketing brought its own experience and network to the table. Club President Nadia Shah, a Senior majoring in Marketing from Hackettstown, NJ, who also oversees the Kean Sports Business Club, emphasized the shared mission between the two organizations.
“Both organizations share similar goals in wanting to help students build connections, gain insights from industry professionals, and prepare for their future careers,” Shah said. “By collaborating, we were able to create a panel event with guest speakers that showcased how marketing and PR complement one another."
There were several topics discussed during the event, most prominent of which are highlighted below.
The Value of a Communications Degree
Panelists challenged the popular misconception that majoring in Communications is “easy,” emphasizing its complexity and versatility.
“There’s so much you can do with a Communications degree,” said Tara Ackaway. “It’s a foundation for so many things... especially if you’re unsure with what you want to do, because there are so many things you can do with that degree.”
“Just because you’re using language to communicate with people doesn’t mean you’re communicating effectively,” added Professor Min Chung Han. She advised Communications students to "have pride in what you study and what you know as a professional.”
The Power of Networking
Networking emerged as a central theme, with panelists crediting their career breakthroughs on the relationships they built early on.
"I was able to start my company shortly after graduating... really the main reason was because I took advantage of networking,” said Ackaway, who began her career interning at Bravo TV and working with Luann de Lesseps of The Real Housewives of New York City.
Jaclyn Laspata agreed: “None of us would be where we are today without the relationships we formed along the way.”
The Role of AI
Laspata described AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement. “AI helps us work much more efficiently,” she said. “It’s definitely not a replacement for the human touch.... I think of it more as a team member. It’s there to support.”
Kerel Cooper provided his outlook on it: “Artificial intelligence is changing everything... even for someone like me, you never stop learning.”
The Changing Landscape of the Industry
Panelists reflected on how rapidly the fields of PR and marketing are evolving, and how students must adapt.
“Things are changing so fast... technology changed,” Han said. Rather than sticking to one field, she commented, “it’s more likely that in your generation, you will have three different careers.”
Cooper emphasized the need to stay curious. “The minute you stop learning is when you fall behind,” he stressed.
Ackaway encouraged students to embrace uncertainty: “You’re going to evolve, you’re going to change, the industry changes—that's normal.”
Getting Your Foot in the Door
The professionals encouraged students to embrace flexibility and take the first opportunity that comes their way.
Laspata’s own career path—from social media to influencer relations to healthcare PR—illustrated how flexibility can lead to unexpected passions. “I didn’t know I had that passion,” she said. “If I hadn’t taken the opportunity, I would’ve never known.”
She continued, “Even if you’re not on the team you wanted, prove yourself. Now I’ve been on the healthcare team for over a decade—and I love what I do.”
Cooper added, “Get your foot in the door and improve yourself. That’s what opens up future paths.”
Internships and Transferable Skills
The panelists emphasized internships as essential for discovering passions and building confidence.
“It shows me you can juggle being a student and having an internship,” Laspata said. “It makes you stronger in job interviews and in life.”
Ackaway encouraged students to try everything: “Even if you don’t love every task, having experience speaks volumes.”
Alejandra Mantilla, a Senior majoring in Communications-Public Relations from Elizabeth, New Jersey, found the panel both inspiring and affirming.
“I find events like this incredibly valuable for college students because they allow us to learn more about our career path through the real-word experience of professionals,” she said. “What encouraged me to attend this panel was the opportunity to better understand how public relations and marketing operates today and to connect with peers and professionals in our industry.”
She recalled feeling connected to the journeys of the panelists. “Like them, I’ve sought to gain work experience in my field, but I’ve also tried to [be] involved on campus,” she said. “I agreed with them that it’s important to stay open to any opportunity that helps to grow our skills and expand our knowledge.”
When asked on the most valuable elements she took away from the event, Mantilla commented: “Public relations and marketing are constantly evolving, especially in today’s digital age and with the growing influence of AI, so it’s essential to continue learning and adapting to new trends."
With the success of Behind the Buzz, both PRSSA and KAM are planning future programming to support student development. PRSSA hopes to launch a recurring panel series and host workshops tailored to member interests.
“We’re always receptive to our members’ insight,” Pease said. “[We] try to align our events to their professional needs and feedback.”
KAM plans to continue offering panels, resume-building events, and expanded collaborations across campus.
“Having events like these strengthen campus culture by fostering connections and collaboration with academic learning and real-world experience,” Shah emphasized.
As PRSSA builds its foundation and KAM continues its momentum, their partnership signals a new era of student-driven professional development, one rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and connection for Cougars.
