PRSSA Opens Up Again on the Kean Ocean Campus

By Elaine Amico | Published April 15, 2022

PRSSA, also known as Public Relations Student Society of America is officially reinstated on the Kean Ocean campus!

PRSSA is an organization among students who share a common interest in Public Relations and Communication. The organization provides long-lasting connections, and gives students opportunities to get their feet wet in the world of Public Relations, prior to starting their professional careers.

By joining PRSSA, students have the opportunity to work closely with a variety of clients, and help them with whatever their needs might be.

Professor Schwab is the faculty advisor for PRSSA, and is very optimistic about what is to come with the organization.

“I am so excited to bring the PRSSA back to Kean Ocean,” Schwab said.  “We have very talented and energetic PR students in Ocean, and I can’t wait to showcase their talents.”

Maggie Lambusta, Junior at Kean Ocean, is very excited about being the new co-president of the organization.

“My role is to delegate specific duties enthusiastically, to motivate and drive professional work,” Lambusta said. “Although this title sounds separate and prestigious, I am like my peers around me, so we work together as a team and help each other to gain the most out of this experience.”

Lambusta felt strongly about wanting to get student involvement back up at Kean Ocean, as the pandemic had definitely taken a toll on student morale.

“I want everyone in the school to be more involved, especially since this pandemic took away our college experience for quite some time,” Lambusta said. “Our goal for the students here at Kean Ocean is to build on the skills taught in the classroom and put them to work.”

When you major in Public Relations, you are signing up to learn a variety of skills. Some of those skills include learning how to work with companies when they need events planned, crises taken care of, communication with the media, and much more. While taking classes helps prepare students, getting first-hand experience through organizations like PRSSA is extremely beneficial.

“In our Public Relations classes, we see what needs to be done in the textbook, but it is not enough of what it takes to accomplish it in real-time,” Lambusta said. “PRSSA gives students the opportunities to practice PR before graduation, giving them the necessary skills, mindset, and professionalism to succeed in this industry.”

Rebecca Clifton, Junior at Kean Ocean, is co-president with Lambusta. Clifton has found that finding time for internships, alongside her work schedule and other commitments isn’t an easy task. PRSSA gives students the opportunity to still gain experience, but without the commitment of an internship.

“For students like myself who work full time and can’t necessarily do an internship, PRSSA provides us with the opportunity to get experience in the field without having an actual internship,” Clifton said.

PRSSA will officially have meetings every Wednesday at 3:30 PM in the Gateway building, room 216. The organization is open to all majors, and is very eager for new students to join.

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