Tag: PRSSA

Alumni Spotlight: Claire Anderson

 

Claire Anderson, 2019 graduate of Belmont University

 

Claire Anderson is from Olympia, WA. She moved to Nashville four years ago to attend Belmont University, where she majored in public relations and minored in history. In Anderson’s free time, she enjoys baking, watching old movies and going for walks around Nashville. One of her favorite places in Nashville is the Green Hills Public Library, where she searches for her next book to read!

Anderson graduated from Belmont University in 2019,  where she was a student writer and temporary communications assistant in the university’s Office of Communications. She also completed an internship at the Andrews Agency. Anderson was active in PRSSA, Kappa Alpha Theta and Bruin Recruiters. In 2019, she received the Department of Public Relations Academic Achievement Award for having the highest GPA of all the public relations majors graduating that academic year.

Anderson has recently accepted a position at DVL Seigenthaler, which is associated with Finn Partners. Anderson is their newest account coordinator, which allows her to work with clients such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Avalere and Waller and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Anderson was initially drawn to DVL Seigenthaler by witnessing several mentors that she admired who worked there.

DVL Seigenthaler is a public relations firm that serves local, national, and international customers. The firm is based in Nashville, TN and is one of the largest communications agencies in the southeast.

Why consider graduate school

On Feb. 19 Belmont’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter hosted a panel discussion about the benefits of attending graduate school. Professional panelists included Anna Kate Tefft Ross of MP&F Strategic Communications, Erin Mercer of Jackson National Life Insurance and Hope Cooper Buckner of DVL Seigenthaler. For two years, Buckner has taught the Nonprofit Public Relations & Development class at Belmont.

The speakers discussed their personal experiences with attending grad school, explaining that it is an experience meant to enrich students’ education experiences in a new type of setting. According to the speakers, graduate school is an opportunity to experience education rather than just absorbing it. It is a course of study intended for people of all ages and all interests, so those who do enroll in graduate programs can apply real-world knowledge from their career paths to what they learn in their classes.

“I’ve had a wonderful experience in grad school,” Ross said. “As a working professional with 15 years of experience, my MBA coursework has given me new tools to do my job well.”

Considering the opportunities available to graduate students the speakers mentioned diverse perspectives in class, networking opportunities and the chance to write an extensive thesis. A graduate degree can be a worthwhile investment for some students. Ross touched on how she had “met some amazing students and professors throughout this experience.” She is so glad she “took the plunge.”

The speakers wanted the audience to remember, however, that whether graduate school ought to be considered varies from student to student. Students should consider all available options and assess whether graduate school is right for them.

Written by Evan Dorian
Edited by Olivia Toliver, Catie VanStratum, Jade Faber, Megan Montgomery