Oakland University’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter hosted a presentation and conversation with PRSSA alumni on Oct. 2. Members eagerly arrived early, filling the regular meeting space beyond its usual capacity as they anticipated the alumni’s insights on their academic backgrounds and experiences in PR agencies.
The meeting featured two presentations followed by Q&A sessions. Megan Woloweic, a public relations manager at Lambert, delivered one presentation on her own, while Columbia Ward and Natalie Pritula, both client operations associates at Publicis Collective, presented together.
Ward graduated with her bachelor’s in public relations and strategic communications. During her time at OU, she led PRSSA as a former president and social media coordinator. Pritula graduated with her bachelor’s in public relations and political science. During her time at OU, she was a part of the PRSSA e-board as secretary. Both Ward and Pritula have various experiences with internships in multiple fields and knowledge on how to jumpstart a career path.
They kicked off the meeting with their presentation about their careers at Publicis Collective, one of the world’s largest communications and advertising holding companies. They then explained their individual academic and professional backgrounds. Having graduated in 2025, both Ward and Pritual’s advice and guidance connected with many students who are currently looking for the next steps in their academic education and professional careers.
“For students, it’s a realistic experience for them to see how to make the transition from school to industry,” Chiaoning Su, director of the Public Relations Program and PRSSA’s academic advisor, said. “Some of the guest speakers are recent graduates, so this can be super relatable.”
After Pritula and Ward’s presentation, Woloweic stepped up to share her extensive experience as a PR manager.
Woloweic graduated in 2020 with her bachelor’s in journalism and was one of the founding students of OU’s PRSSA chapter. After graduating, she began a public relations internship at Lambert, an integrated PR agency that provides strategic public relations counsel. After almost five years with the company, she got two promotions and has since held her current manager position.
With years of experience in the PR industry, Woloweic offered concrete insights into the growth in the PR field, the variety of roles and opportunities, its fast-paced nature and the enjoyment that comes with it. Pulling from her experience in a managerial role, she also shared advice on the interview process from the perspective of someone involved in hiring.
“Megan [Woloweic] came to our PR and advertising writing class and we are currently working on a future story on her, so I wanted to get more information on her experiences,” PRSSA member Madeline Kaplantzes said. “I also just wanted to learn more about networking and other people’s experiences.”
The ending of the presentations led into a Q&A session, giving members the chance to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the PR agency industry.
Questions ranged from how to maintain a healthy work-life balance to what a typical day looks like in a PR agency. However, the conversation truly came to life when the topic of internships came up. For many students in the room, internships were a big worry because they are in the process of finding them, yet it seems to be challenging.
All three speakers agreed that searching for internships through OU’s resources is the starting point; however, it takes more than that. They all mentioned that going to a company’s website and applying for existing internships through there is the best option. Another suggestion given by Woloweic about internships is to reach out to companies to stand out.
“I came in not knowing anything and I actually learned a lot about PR agencies and what it takes to get to that point,” PRSSA member Tessa Saussele said. “I went into PR wanting to be an event manager, but I learned that I actually love the fast-paced aspect and environment of PR agencies. It’s something that I would definitely love to do.”
PRSSA’s next meeting will feature more guest speakers, but this time the topic will be on PR skills in entrepreneurship and building thriving businesses. For further information, visit its Instagram page at @prssa_ou.
