UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A Penn State alumna was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Public Relations Student Society of America at the chapter and national levels.
Abigail Johnson, who earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising/public relations this year, received the National President’s Citation for her presidential term from May 2021 to May 2022 at Penn State.
“It has been an outstanding and rewarding learning experience, as over the past months our organization has seen phenomenal improvements in both membership and chapter development,” Johnson said.
During Johnson’s term as president, membership increased 78% from the previous semester and 127 undergraduate students joined the chapter at Penn State. The chapter introduced a new semester theme titled “Building Your Personal Media Kit,” which is a programming series that features seven innovative and interactive workshops. The chapter also came in second place for the PRSSA Pacesetter Award, which Johnson said was “an amazing recognition of our hard work the past year.”
“As a leader, I implemented the changes that I saw necessary for my organization throughout the past three years as a general member,” Johnson said.
Johnson continued to shape the organization’s newly developed mentor-mentee program as well. In that program new members are paired with upperclassmen who serve as positive role models and ambassadors for the club and University. The chapter also created an executive board position focused on diversity, equity and inclusion .
Johnson, a consulting analyst at Accenture Song, Accenture's marketing services arm, said PRSSA shaped her professional development skills because she served in several leadership positions with the organization as a student. “PRSSA was the most memorable and transformative organization during my time at Penn State,” she said.
Johnson attended the virtual PRSSA 2021 International Conference, where she was able to meet with other PRSSA presidents across the world. The conference delivered leadership, education, information and connections, which she was able to bring back to our Penn State chapter — and utilize as she started her career.
“PRSSA greatly contributed to my job by showing me the value of mentorship, networking and ongoing professional development,” Johnson said. She said communications-related clubs and organizations provide a strong complement to classroom success at Penn State. She believes students should get involved with those kinds of clubs — to better themselves and, eventually, the respective organizations.
“The clubs you're involved in should make you excited and inspired,” she said. “Once involved, start thinking about how you can leave the organization better than you found it.”