UNION — A lecturer from Old Bridge is guiding his Kean University public relations students in their effort to educate non-profit organizations on how to tell their stories to the world.
The students in Jeremiah Sullivan’s Public Relations Campaign class are developing public relations strategies for the non-profits to help build their brands and expand their reach.
“Students in the class immerse themselves in developing actual public relations campaigns for organizations that need the expertise and support,” Sullivan said. “By working with non-profit organizations, they also have a service learning opportunity.”
The Old Bridge native Sullivan serves as a lecturer with the university’s School of Communication, Media and Journalism.
The process for the class starts at the beginning of the semester and reflects the demands of working at a public relations firm. Students are put into two-person teams, and then two teams compete against each other to create the best overall campaign for their assigned non-profit organization.
The students are working with the New Jersey Small Business Development Center on Kean’s campus in Union, the Westfield United Fund in Westfield, St. Joseph’s Social Service Center in Elizabeth, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield and Middlesex County in Plainfield.
Kamili Williams, president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield and Middlesex County, said Habitat for Humanity’s partnership with Kean’s PR students is mutually beneficial.
“Someone coming on board with significant experience is astounding, and it is why we come to Kean University,” she said. “We also create internship opportunities with the students at the end of the semester to continue working with them.”
The teams will present their campaigns to fellow students and their clients for a final grade in the last two weeks of the semester and be judged on their methods, tactics and creativity.
“When you think of PR, you think of big corporations,” said Genesis Algaba, a senior public relations student from Elizabeth. “Because the organizations are nonprofit, it gives us a chance to think outside the box due to a different dynamic in play.”
Working with non-profits forces students to work within tight budgets, said Hannah Friedman, a senior from Colonia.
“Without a budget, the PR campaign is entirely reliant on our creative approach, efforts and skills,” Friedman said. “It makes us want to help our local communities even more, so we can see how what we are learning in class can benefit local non-profits.”
Non-profit organizations interested in partnering with students in the PR Campaign class can contact Jeremiah Sullivan at [email protected].