Mizzou PRSSA Connects Students With Top Industry Professionals
Ava Symanski, Ashley Rodio, Sophia Martin, Kelly Ritter, Carter Waghorn, Ellie Halls, Emily Gerhart, Sydney Thorton, Carrie Sandler, Hannah Karius, Hanna Thompson, Mary Philip, Natelli Herrera, Elise Jessee and Peyton Smith
By Jack Toal
Columbia, Mo. (December 5, 2025) — The University of Missouri’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) concluded its fall agency trip to Nashville from Nov. 5–7, offering student members valuable insight with industry leaders across various topics, including public relations, AI’s influence in the advertising space and how to approach the beginning of their careers.
Led by PRSSA VP of programming and events, Ava Symanski, and PRSSA President, Ashley Rodio, the group visited four major organizations during the two-day experience: REED PR, the Nashville Predators (NHL), VML Nashville and MP&F Strategic Communications. The trip concluded with a networking happy hour hosted by Nashville’s Mizzou Alumni Association, allowing students to connect with MU graduates.
“Getting inside these agencies, talking face-to-face with professionals and seeing what their day-to-day really looks like helps students understand where they want to take their careers,” said Rodio. “The trip is all about exposure, I mean, it literally got me a start on my career.”
The group began the trip at REED Public Relations, a women-owned public relations boutique, known for its creative community-focused campaigns, recently named “Nashville’s Best Boutique Agency”. Students learned about the firm’s approach to crisis communication and growing opportunities for young professionals.
At the Nashville Predators, students explored communications and PR roles within professional sports. Through conversations with Mizzou alumni and the Predators’ own Director of Public Relations, Nick Barnowski, members gained insight into game-day operations and sports-branded storytelling in a fast-paced environment.
“Getting inside these agencies, talking face-to-face with professionals and seeing what their day-to-day really looks like helps students understand where they want to take their careers. The trip is all about exposure, I mean, it literally got me a start on my career.”
— Ashley Rodio
The students also toured VML’s Nashville office, one of the world’s largest creative agencies. Representatives shared advice on navigating AI’s influence in the marketing scene and preparing portfolios for competitive entry-level roles.
The final agency visit took place at MP&F Strategic Communications, where the team met with experts across public relations, public affairs, design and analytics. Students engaged in Q&A sessions about client management and strategic planning with the evolving demands of integrated communication.
“They [agencies] see your face, they know your name, and are connected. In the future, if students want to go back to any of these agencies that they visited, they can catch up with them, like, ‘Hey, I actually came to your office back in November 2025 and I loved what you had to say,’” said Symanski. “So, there’s that face value connection that I feel like is pretty unbeatable.”
The experience concluded with a networking happy hour alongside members of the Nashville Mizzou Alumni Association. Students were able to expand on their professional networks and receive career guidance as they approach the job market.
“I gained insight into where I see myself within the industry and got to connect with and learn from many talented professionals,” said Emily Gerhart, who has been elected onto the 2026 PRSSA Executive Board. “I left Nashville feeling inspired and motivated to keep making strides toward my professional goals!”
About Mizzou PRSSA
Mizzou’s PRSSA chapter, now in its third year, continues to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in public relations, strategic communication and marketing careers. The agency trip program—now including both regional spring trips and out-of-state fall trips—aims to help students explore career paths and build a strong network before graduation.
Updated: December 9, 2025