By Isabella Trost

In late April, two aspiring public relations professionals left the classroom to expand their industry knowledge at the PRSA Employee Communications Connect 25 Conference in St. Louis.

School of Journalism students Kampbell Hemeyer and Josie Menley attended as active members of the University of Missouri’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). At the conference, they networked with industry professionals and learned about the importance of telling the stories of the people who work for organizations.

“These events put me in the thick of the field,” said Hemeyer, a junior studying strategic communication and music. “It allows me to connect with professionals, get my name in their heads and start building my professional career. They also allow students to learn real-world concepts and the issues professionals in the industry are facing.”

Among those attending the conference they connected with were Lindy Drew of Humans of St. Louis and Aurora Meyer of Columbia Public Schools.

“[Drew] pointed out how important people’s stories are, and how to respectfully communicate them,” said Hemeyer. “It was a heartwarming talk that showed me the effect of communication and how its place in society impacts everyone.”

Meyer, BJ ’05, introduced the Mizzou students to internal communications strategies and expanded their network, helping them make meaningful professional connections.

With PRSA providing free registration for the conference, Hemeyer and Menley gained experience and confidence that public relations was the right path for them.

“I have already started to apply what I learned from this conference in class,” said Menley, a sophomore studying strategic communication. “One of the speakers gave advice about research and how to measure it. I’m currently in a research course, and those tips have seriously helped me with my data analysis process. I can only imagine how helpful they will be in the professional world!”

Although all students experience some trepidation about landing a job after graduation, both Hemeyer and Menley feel more confident after the conference that what they’re learning in the School of Journalism is giving them the tools, skills and network they need for a successful career.

“I learned so much and connected with so many,” Hemeyer said. “I feel empowered to keep working on my career and confident in the experiences I can apply to my dream job.”

Updated: May 27, 2025