Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) students Germanie Bozeman, Brandi Roman, LeBaron Fields, Kimiya Watkins were hand-selected by instructors in SJGC’s public relations sequence to attend the 2022 Myra Blackmon AdPR Academy for Diversity & Inclusion.
The educational outreach program is “designed to amplify the power of diversity, equity and inclusion while growing the pipeline of diverse advertising and public relations professionals.” The five day educational bootcamp was held in Atlanta from Nov. 9-13, 2022. Selected students gain hands-on experience, exposure to public relations and marketing agencies and are also provided with a certificate of completion from the University of Georgia’s Department of Advertising & Public Relations.
“Attending the AdPR Academy served as a benefit to SJGC’s students because it allowed them to learn new marketing, public relations and advertising strategies while collaborating with other students across across the Southeast,” said Ranata Hughes, SJGC adjunct instructor and internship coordinator.
Students from Albany State University, Clemson University, Georgia State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, Kennesaw State University, Tuskegee University and the University of South Carolina also attended the AdPR Academy.
To wrap up the program, students are tasked with competing in a case study competition to industry executive judges. Germanie Boseman and her team took first place in the competition, winning a prize of $1500. Lebaron Fields and Kimiya Watkins won awards nominated by their cohort members and staff.
“We are excited to work with AdPR Academy at the University of Georgia in helping to close the diversity gap in the advertising and public relations industries,” Mira Lowe, Dean of the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University told the University of Georgia in a press release.
“Our partnership will open new doors to our PR students seeking career opportunities and connections in various professional networks. This collaboration with UGA enables us to expand the professional development of our students in a consequential way,” Lowe continued.
