Going Places With PRSSA: 2026 Leadership Assembly

By Karmen Paige

It’s well-known that involvement in on-campus organizations looks great on your resume, but what looks even better is active participation within those organizations. My journey with PRSSA started my freshman year, as a general body member, but I knew from the beginning I wanted to get more involved.

As executive positions opened, I applied and stepped into the role of vice president of social media in my sophomore year.  Being on the executive board has not only given me experience for my resume, but I have also had opportunities that I would not have expected.

One of those opportunities was attending the 2026 PRSSA Leadership Assembly in New Orleans. As an executive board member, I was able to represent my chapter on a large scale in a room with chapters across the world.

Attending the Leadership Assembly gave me far more than just the chance to travel. I returned with valuable experiences, new perspectives and tools to bring back to our chapter. Here are some of my key takeaways from the experience:

1. Leadership Insight: I gained a stronger understanding of what effective leadership looks like and how to better serve members within our chapter. But taking a step back, I gained skills that I can use in my professional career, such as possible interview responses or skills that I can implement during my internships.

   
   

2. Networking Opportunities: I connected with PRSSA members, chapter leaders and professionals from across the country. Over the course of three days, I was able to connect and have personal conversations with at least 30 students. These aren’t just students, but future coworkers. Making these genuine connections now can mean everything for the future. 

   
   

3. Professional Confidence: Representing my chapter at a national event strengthened my confidence in both my leadership abilities and my future career goals. Taking on the responsibility of representing not only my chapter, but at times my university and even my state, pushed me to step into that role with confidence. Connecting with students from South America, who were eager to learn more about Alabama,  further emphasized the importance of that representation. Experiences like this reinforced my confidence and sense of responsibility as a leader.

   
   

4. Industry Knowledge: I gained insight into the roles within agency life and the paths one can take within the agency, with a rough timeline from the internship level to the executive vice president, as well as various specialties from branding to analytics.

   
   

5. Motivation to Stay Involved: Engaging with passionate student leaders from other chapters inspired me to remain active and continue growing within PRSSA. After the voting process, I found myself exploring opportunities to get involved at the international level through various committees. During breakout sessions, we had the opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices for leading our chapters, and it was clear through every conversation just how much passion and dedication each member brings to their role. 

   
   

6. Memorable Experiences: Beyond the professional growth, I had the opportunity to explore New Orleans.  This gave me the opportunity to connect on a more personal level with leaders from other universities while exploring the city with them.

The greatest takeaway I took from the Leadership Assembly is gratitude for getting involved with PRSSA. This trip reminded me that stepping up and participating can lead to opportunities I never expected. What began as attending meetings during my freshman year eventually led to leadership opportunities, personal growth and the chance to represent my chapter on a national scale. 

Ultimately, the PRSSA Leadership Assembly was more than just a trip — it was a reminder of how much can come from getting involved and taking initiative. I’m grateful to have had the chance to represent my chapter in New Orleans, and I look forward to bringing what I learned back to campus. 

If there is one lesson I would share with other students, it is simple: get involved because you never know where it might take you