Meet the Spring 2015 Newsletter Chair: Kimi Sanden

Whether in the classroom or on the track, you shouldn’t be surprised to see her at the front of the pack. Leaders with her drive, vision, and passion are what make the Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America a great organization. Meet the spring 2015 Newsletter Chair Kimi Sanden.

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up on a farm in a small town in northwestern Illinois. I came to ISU for the incredible opportunity to join the cross country and track and field teams. In my time at ISU, I have ran too many miles to even count; studied abroad in England, France, and the Netherlands; and discovered an incredible passion for the public relations industry through the School of Communication and my experiences in PRSSA.

Why did you join the relations committee?

I joined the relations committee because I finally realized that great writing is extremely important not only in the public relations industry, but also every other industry. I jumped out of my comfort zone when I volunteered to write my first “Senior to Watch” article for the blog, PRecisely PR, but now I feel that I am a strong writer and enjoy encouraging others to write as well.

What is one opportunity you're grateful for within ISU PRSSA?

ISU PRSSA offers an incredible amount of opportunities to its members. The experience I am most grateful for is when I represented our Chapter as a delegate at the 2015 PRSSA National Assembly in Portland, Ore. It was a weekend filled with networking with other Chapter delegates, learning great lessons from the current PRSSA National Committee, and casting my vote on the new National Committee. It was definitely something I will never forget.

What is one thing you look forward to most about the Chapter's future?

I look forward to watching the new members grow and learn about public relations through actively participating in ISU PRSSA Chapter meetings, agency tours, guest speaker events, and workshops. I discovered my passion for public relations through joining ISU PRSSA my sophomore year and looked up to the senior students as role models. Their experiences helped me form a better idea of what I needed to accomplish early on in order to land a job after graduation. I look forward to being that mentor next year and encouraging new members to step outside their comfort zones to help them discover what they’re most passionate about as well.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman?

I would tell my freshman self is to work hard, be patient, and do not sweat the small stuff.

Questions composed by Dillon Maher

---