The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at Oakland University connected students with industry professionals during its annual Mocktail Networking Night, a signature spring semester event focused on career exploration and meaningful conversation.
PRSSA at Oakland University is a student organization dedicated to preparing students for careers in public relations, advertising, communications and related fields. Through guest speakers, networking opportunities and leadership experiences, the organization helps students gain real-world insight while building confidence and professional connections.
The evening began with opening remarks from Chiaoning Su, PRSSA academic adviser, associate professor and public relations and advertising program director, alongside members of the executive board: Natalie Lindstrom, chapter president; Teagan London, event director and treasurer; and Ava Webb and Skylar Urbain, co-vice presidents.
Following introductions, students participated in a structured speed networking format designed to maximize interaction. Attendees spent seven minutes at each table speaking with a professional before rotating to the next. As soon as the timer ended, students moved on, creating fresh opportunities to engage with professionals from different industries and career stages.
This year’s event featured 19 professionals representing a wide range of fields, including sports, automotive, health care, nonprofit, agency and government sectors. The diversity of industries allowed students to explore multiple career paths in a single evening while gaining a broader understanding of the communications field.
The format encouraged students to ask thoughtful and candid questions, from breaking into the industry to understanding day-to-day responsibilities and navigating early career uncertainty. For many attendees, the event provided a rare opportunity to engage in face-to-face conversations with professionals in a setting that felt both structured and approachable.
“Mocktail Networking Night is all about creating a space where students feel comfortable having real conversations with professionals,” Teagan London, PRSSA event director and treasurer, said. “We wanted to design an environment that felt polished but still approachable, so students could ask honest questions and walk away feeling more confident about their future.”
The structured networking portion of the evening concluded with remarks from Allison Gavagan, current promotions director and incoming chapter president, helping to close out the formal rotations before transitioning into the next phase of the event.
As the structured rotations concluded, the event transitioned into open networking, allowing students to revisit conversations and connect more personally with professionals they resonated with throughout the evening.
This extended portion of the event gave attendees time to deepen connections, exchange contact information and continue discussions beyond the time limits of the rotations. What began as brief conversations often developed into more meaningful interactions, reinforcing the event’s purpose of building lasting professional relationships.
Through events like Mocktail Networking Night, PRSSA at Oakland University continues to provide students with direct access to industry professionals while helping them better understand potential career paths. By creating space for honest conversation and connection, the organization empowers students to take the next step in their professional journeys.
