Public Relations | Alumni News

Did you know that our public relations alumni have an active chapter in Calgary?

The Chapter meets approximately four times a year and is working on initiatives that may interest you. Why get involved?

networking opportunities
stay connected with Mount Royal
no membership fees
learn about what's happening at Mount Royal and in the PR community
add board experience to your resume

If you would like to learn more check out our Mount Royal University Public Relation Alumni Chapter website Please complete an online membership form so the Chapter can keep you informed and identify your interests.

Issue #11: June 2010

In this issue:

From the Chair

It’s always quiet on the Mount Royal campus during the hazy days of summer except in the public relations program as our senior students return for their final semester before graduation. This summer is particularly nostalgic for three long-time sessional faculty and myself as we teach our last group of students in the applied degree in communications – public relations.

Faculty News and Events

Bill Smullen speaks to Media Relations students

On March 29th, Jeremy Berry’s Media Relations class was treated to a special presentation by Bill Smullen, a professor of public relations at Syracuse University in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Prior to his Syracuse appointment, Professor Smullen held a number of senior positions in the United States public service, including Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and Chief of Media Relations for the U.S. Army.

New chair thrilled with MRU's focus on instruction

Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Communication Studies formally welcomed David Taras, PhD as the next occupant of the Ralph Klein Chair in Media Studies during a short ceremony in the Fireplace Room on April 29, 2010.

Maclean’s piece highlights Western Canada’s premier PR program

If you happen to have children approaching university age, you are likely familiar with the annual issue of MacLean’s Magazine which ranks universities across the country. When the new issue came out in April, there was quite a buzz at Mount Royal University. A full page article was devoted to describing the features of our campus and programs. The article singled out one of our PR students, Angela Sengaus, describing her unique work experience with Shakespeare in the Park last summer. It went on to talk about the Public Relations program stating we are “arguably Western Canada’s premier PR program”. Assistant Professor Jeremy Berry was quoted in the article as well, sharing his thoughts on why our graduates have always been highly sought after.

To read the full article, check out the 2010 Maclean’s university ranking issue in bookstores.

Future Alumni

Caitlin Young

The adage “sometimes you have to get a little lost before you find your way,” can describe my experience in Ireland with DHR Communications.

It was a steep learning curve being on my own for the first time. With help from the Faculty of Communication Studies, the Office of International Education, and DHR Communications, I was fortunate to spend four months in Ireland to complete my second directed field study (DFS).

Megan Steiestol

Northeast India is a place of staggering contrasts; the land is full of beauty, tranquility and majestic culture. Prayer flags, monks, monasteries and the Himalayan mountain range are a commonality here. Among this beauty, however, there is also great struggle and social injustice: this is an area that is poverty stricken and underdeveloped. For my directed field study, I volunteered for an organization called Futures for Children in the small village of Pedong, situated along the ancient silk route that connected Tibet with India.

Kevin Brown and Scott Corner

Kevin Brown and Scott Corner are experiencing life abroad during their international exchange in Spain. While attending the Universitad de Bic in Barcelona, they worked on a project called Moving Europe. Kevin and Scott visited high schools in Spain to give presentations about Canada and to promote Canadian culture. They'll be returning to fall semester classes at Mount Royal after a few weeks of summer adventures in Europe.

A note from Janice

On this cold and rainy June day as I write this update for our alumni newsletter, I realize that it is exactly two years since I became a “retiree.” To tell the truth, I didn’t exactly stop working, but I certainly scaled back and have had a lot more time to myself.

Update on Mentorship

Several people have approached me recently asking if there will be any opportunities to get involved with mentorship this year. Mentorship in the Faculty of Communication Studies is alive and well. While we transition from the three year applied degree to a full four year baccalaureate degree, there will not be any one-on-one partnerships this year as we do not have any senior students to match with alumni. The launch of the new four year baccalaureate degree has resulted in a gap year. The one-on-one partnerships will resume in 2011.

In the meantime, I am planning to hold at least two events, one networking event in late October or early November. Another event will be offered to students and alumni in February or March of 2011.

If you have already applied to be a mentor, your applications are being held until next year at which time I will contact you to see if you are still interested.

Robertson/Wood Public Relations scholarship update

In 2009 the first Robertson/Wood Public Relations scholarship was created through donations by faculty, staff and alumni of Mount Royal. The first award went to Ben Silcox in the amount of $500 last November. While the fund has enough money to continue for another six years, the PR Alumni Chapter has decided to develop a campaign to build the fund into an endowed scholarship. A minimum of $20,000 is required to offer a $500 scholarship to a public relations student each year drawing on interest alone.

At the June 8th meeting, members decided to take on this project on an annual basis until the goal is reached. Once the target amount is raised, the board will decide if they want to continue to build the fund to a higher level, enabling them to offer a larger award each year.

If you would like to be involved in this campaign or for more information, please contact either Elizabeth Lennox at elennox@mtroyal.ca or Normel Martinez at nmartinez996@gmail.com.

Anyone who would like to donate to this fund may do so by contacting the Foundation Office at 440-7700. A tax receipt will be issued for donations of $20 or more.

Alumni Snapshot – Where are they now?

Mona Bartsoff (Hari)

Graduation Year - 1988 Public Relations Diploma Program; 2008 Bachelor of Applied Communication - Public Relations
Organization and job title - Corporate Communications Advisor, FortisAlberta Inc.
Contact info: mona.bartsoff@fortisalberta.com
Anything else of interest - traded in my diploma after 20 years for the Applied Degree in Communication
Married for 10 years and have one daughter who is 8 years old. I still love the practice of public relations and I work at it three days a week. Recently, I ran across two former alumni from my class - ironically both Tracey's (Martin) and Tracy Feist who now lives in Denver.

Katy Bond (Wightman)

Graduation Year: 2009
Organization and job title: Chatterson Drive -Communications Strategist
Location: Calgary
Contact Info: bond@chattersondrive.com // 403.457.0404 ext 102

Keith Marlowe

Graduation Year: 2004
Organization and job title: Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP - Attorney
at Law
Location: New York, NY
Contact Info: (212) 318-6409, keithmarlowe@paulhastings.com
Anything else of interest - Married to Kari Peperkorn (2004 PR grad) on May 23, 2010

Beverly Reynolds, APR

Graduation Year: 1974
Organization and job title: Communications consultant
Location: Calgary
Contact Info: 403.243.1790 or beverly.reynolds@gmail.ca
Anything else of interest - Former MRU Board of Governors and recipient of Honourary degree in Applied Communications from MRU.

Cindy Drummond

Graduation Year: 2006
Organization and job title: Communications Manager, Calgary Co-op
Location: Calgary
Contact Info: Cdrummond@calgarycoop.com

Katie Cook

Graduation Year: 2009
Organization and job title: ThinkInnovation - Communications Specialist
Location: Lyon, France
Contact Info: k8tcook@gmail.com

Kayleigh Rose Galpin

Graduation Year: 2009
Organization and job title: Communications Advisor, Calgary Homeless Foundation
Location: Calgary, AB
Contact Info:
work email: kayleigh@calgaryhomeless.com
work phone: 403-718-8543
cell phone: 403-465-2653
www.facebook.com/kayleighgalpin
www.twitter.com/kayleighroses
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kayleighgalpin
Anything else of interest: I am going to Cambodia in November with the NGO Hope for the Nations. I will even be going into the remote Khmer Rouge villages, whose people are now ostracized from the rest of Cambodian society. I am very excited to experience a completely different culture, and to offer help and encouragement however I can.

Interested in connecting with old friends? Send your information to elennox@mtroyal.ca and it will be posted in the next newsletter.

Job Seekers Network

The Job Seekers Network is a weekly electronic bulletin listing job openings in the field of public relations. It has become an important avenue for businesses to find practitioners with the best training available in the field of public relations. The bulletin, which goes out every Friday afternoon, is sent directly to the inbox of approximately 350 alumni of the public relations program at Mount Royal University.

If you have a job to post or if you are aware of an opportunity in public relations, please send your posting to elennox@mtroyal.ca. Interested applicants will contact you directly.

Notice board

The Notice Board section was added to offer alumni an opportunity to post events, promote your business (on a one time basis only) or invite alumni to check out something of interest to all. If you would like to post something in this section of the newsletter, please send in your piece by November 20th 2010 for the next edition of the newsletter. It will be reviewed and you will be advised if it’s acceptable for our audience. There will be a limit to the number of items posted.

Remember to let us know when you move or change jobs so we can keep in touch and let you know about all the great things that are happening in our program.

Elizabeth Lennox
Coordinator, Public Relations Outreach
Faculty of Communication Studies
Mount Royal University
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary, Alberta T3E 6K6
(403) 440-5698
elennox@mtroyal.ca

The Public Relations Alumni E-Newsletter is produced once each semester and sent electronically to graduates of the Public Relations Program at Mount Royal. The next issue is due in November 2010. If you have a story to tell, send it to elennox@mtroyal.ca. Photos are encouraged.