Since its founding in 1982, Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication has served as a shining example of the power of alumni mentorship and experiential partnerships in developing the next generation of industry professionals.
That tradition is continuing with the success of the IPREX Student Cohort at FAMU. Under the leadership of SJGC alumna Heidi Otway, president and partner at SalterMitchell PR, and newly named global president of IPREX, the cohort is celebrating its second year, allowing aspiring public relations professionals to get an up-close and personal experience at the inner workings of client engagement, agency practice and communications leadership all through a relationship-building and mentor-driven system.
IPREX is the top global communications and PR network, with more than 1,100 professionals across over 100 markets.
As the spring 2026 semester came to a close, six FAMU scholars representing PR and journalism tracks worked with IPREX agency leaders and practitioners to garner insights about careers in the field and to focus on the experiential work of learning and doing by producing content for agency clients.
“The collaboration with FAMU deepens our relationship with one of the leading HBCUs in the United States and aligns with IPREX’s long‑term commitment to an inclusive industry…. Students moved from classroom theory to real-world PR and communications, learning from IPREX agencies, participating in the virtual IPREX Leadership Development Conference, and working on a SalterMitchell PR client campaign,” said IPREX representatives in a special recap of the cohort’s progress.
Junior PR student Tochi Nwadiogbu shared her experience in the recent IPREX article.
“We received real, hands-on PR and marketing experience, working on a campaign, messaging, and branding,” she said. “I’ve never, ever worked on anything like this before, so being able to put my skills to the test, following the guidelines and deadlines, really made me want to put time and effort into this and make sure my craft is perfect… I feel like I’m growing and, overall, really thankful for the experience. I really wish it were longer.”
Venessa Walters, a sophomore public relations scholar, also shared her reflections with IPREX.
“This experience exceeded all my expectations. Working with Heidi Otway and her team, meeting IPREX members during the Leadership Development Conference, and meeting with Tunheim (a strategic consulting and public relations firm) were very exciting. These experiences made me feel like a professional, and like I’m already at my big job,” she said.
The students’ sentiments echo the program goals that Otway and SJGC Dean Mira Lowe initially announced about the cohort when it launched just a few years ago.
“This partnership with IPREX furthers our mission by allowing our students to gain valuable practical experience expected of practitioners who aspire to work and compete globally,” Lowe noted.
“This cohort at FAMU will serve as a model that we can replicate and customize at other HBCUs,” Otway added.
Planning for the 2027 IPREX Student Cohort at FAMU is already in motion, with this year’s scholars helping to promote the program and shape future curriculum to enhance the next group’s experiences. Hear more from cohort members and read the full network update in IPREX’s recent article here.
For details on the IPREX Student Cohort and ways agencies across the network can support or connect with past and upcoming scholars, visit the IPREX Student Cohort page.
