Teaching Honors Public Relations: Nicholson News Feature

I’m incredibly honored to have been featured in Nicholson News for teaching and designing the Honors Public Relations course (PUR 4000H) at the University of Central Florida. The article, “UCF Honors Public Relations Course Equipping Students for Industry Success,” meant more to me than a professional milestone, it felt like a celebration of everything I’ve stood for as both an educator and a public relations professional.

Where PR Industry and Instruction Meet

Before stepping into academia full-time, I served as National Program Manager of Public Relations at Shorelight Education and Project Manager of Strategic Campaigns at Pro Higher Education Consulting (now Carnegie). In these roles, I led national PR campaigns, coordinated multi-channel messaging strategies, collaborated with media outlets, and managed brand storytelling initiatives that helped universities grow their reputation and reach.

Those years shaped me, and I now bring that same real-world perspective into the classroom. I don’t just teach public relations. I live it. And in PUR 4000H, I designed every element of the course to reflect what students will actually face in the industry: fast-paced deadlines, client expectations, integrated messaging, and the evolving power of digital storytelling.

Designing the Course Curriculum

The Honors Public Relations course is more than an introduction, it’s a launchpad. I personally developed the curriculum from the ground up, drawing on both industry standards and academic rigor. Every assignment is a scaffolded, real-world task: writing a press release, building a strategic communications plan, creating a PESO-based campaign, drafting a crisis response, and pitching to a mock client.

Students engage in active learning strategies, including:

• Simulated client briefs and comprehensive PR campaign execution

• Hands-on use of AI tools and media monitoring platforms

• Pitching to industry guest speakers and receiving real-time feedback

• Case study analysis drawn from actual agency and in-house PR scenarios

• Strategic brand storytelling activities aligned with current trends and ethics

Watching Students Step into Their Power

One of the greatest joys of teaching this course is witnessing my students thrive. They don’t just learn media relations, brand positioning, or message framing, they practice them. They walk away with:

• Professional portfolios that showcase real campaign work

• Internships in PR, corporate communications, and nonprofit outreach

• LinkedIn profiles refined through personal branding sessions

• Increased confidence in content strategy, stakeholder engagement, and persuasive writing

Hearing students like Michelle and Mercia say that this course helped shape their professional identities, shift their career goals, and land meaningful PR roles is the greatest affirmation of all. This is why I teach.

Why This News Feature Matters

Being recognized for this work by Nicholson News is more than visibility, it’s a reminder of how deeply impactful experiential learning can be when we ground it in both passion and practice. I want my students to leave class thinking like publicists, strategists, and brand storytellers, ready to lead, innovate, and elevate the voices that matter.

As I continue to develop new courses in PR, social media, and digital communication, I remain committed to bridging academia with the industry, creating classrooms that feel like PR firms, and lessons that stick long after graduation.

To everyone who read the article, reached out, or supported me, thank you. And to my students: this recognition is as much yours as it is mine.

Let’s keep learning, creating, and transforming the future of communication together.

Read the full feature here: UCF Honors Public Relations Course Equipping Students for Industry Success