Focus on Faculty

Ellen Frisina, M.A.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF JOURNALISM, MEDIA STUDIES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

When asked what she considers important in her public relations course, Professor Frisina replies, "Getting an education and a strong skill set, and developing a portfolio. And internships. Nearly 100 percent of our graduates are getting jobs right out of college." Her class sizes are small. "No more than 20 students--20 is a large class in public relations," she points out. "And we offer one-on-one learning with an academic who has professional public relations experience." Professor Frisina enjoys teaching undergraduate students because "they have the ability to be curious. And I love it when a student is unsure of what to focus on or what public relations is." The course requires exceptional writing skills, she adds. "Journalism is required for public relations majors, and two Zarb School of Business courses also are required--one in marketing and one in advertising." Explaining the rationale for these requirements, she says, "The students get an incredibly broad view--what's often called integrated marketing communication." What do students get out of her class? "A profession," she says, and then she adds, "But we also want them to become citizens of the world and active participants in our community. They need a strong set of ethics."