Thursday, Sept. 18, s025, marked the beginning of a new tradition for Professor Kristina Markos and her Public Relations students. During this trip, students were able to network with people who were part of Porter Novelli, a widely known PR firm, and saw the release of a new piece of AI.
The main attraction of the trip was the Museum of PR, which had multiple artifacts from over the years, crucial to PR and its worldwide usage. The museum’s director, Shelley Spector, educated students about the artifacts on display and allowed them to examine, touch, and use the items.
The museum shared many interesting facts, such as how the term ‘soul food’ originated from a book title, or how cigarettes were called ‘freedom torches’ to encourage women to smoke more. Spector lectured on the importance of often-overlooked individuals in the creation of PR, including women and people of color, such as Inez Kaiser, who became the first Black woman to own a PR Agency.
In addition to the Museum of Public Relations, students had numerous networking opportunities, including speaking with current Public Relations specialists, such as Kevin Santo and Gia Elie, who visited the class over lunch. They answered questions, provided helpful insights into the job search process, and offered to assist students with future questions or job search inquiries.
Later, students met with Allie Clancy, a Lasell alumna who works in media production and has achieved considerable success in the fitness industry. Her recommendation to students is to be as involved as possible with clubs and internships that become available.
Finally, students had the opportunity to meet with the employees, CEO, CIO, and Founder of Porter Novelli, who spoke extensively about their work with the company and the public launch of their new AI. Their AI model is based on the writings, speeches, and previous campaigns of Bill Novelli, founder of Porter Novelli. The goal of the AI is to allow future employees and leaders to understand Novelli’s perspective after he has left the company by allowing them to interact with him through the customizable AI experience.
Nya Desir, a sophomore public relations major, felt that the “exhibits were engaging and insightful, offering valuable history that many people may not know, especially since PR isn’t always talked about enough.” Desir said, “learning about the faces behind so much of our history, and even getting to see some of their personal communication and artifacts up close, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Marianna Barrett, a senior communications major, felt the trip was an amazing opportunity and was enriching for her future career.
Both Desir and Barrett had positive things to say about this PR trip, highlighting its impact on their future careers, as well as the value of learning more about the history of PR. The history of public relations often goes unseen, so having a trip dedicated to exploring it is a very engaging and positive experience for students, a valuable part of their education.
Professor Kristina Markos is pleased to announce that this trip will be approved to occur annually, with the possibility of an overnight stay in the city for students. The trip is a rare opportunity to network with seasoned professionals, ask questions about communications or public relations career fields, and learn fascinating insights into the history of PR. Ultimately, this trip should become a highlight of the year for PR and Communications majors.
–Oct. 7, 2025–
