Emma Grubaugh, an award-winning student and pioneer leader for PRSSA’s trip to New York City, has worked tirelessly during her time at Ohio State. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication with minors in Design Thinking and Professional Writing. Grubaugh has ensured that the legacy she leaves behind at Ohio State will always be remembered through the impacts she has made in student organizations such as PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) and The PRactice, Ohio State’s student-run public relations firm.
Grubaugh obtained two important internships through her connections garnered from PRSSA and The PRactice. Her internship with Columbus based public relations agency, Fahlgren Mortine went hand in hand with her becoming the winner of the Walt Siefert Founders Award. This award was given to the student who obtained the internship with Fahlgren. Grubaugh also worked with Dispatch Media Group on the Columbus Home & Garden Show team.
Grubaugh took what she learned at her internships and applied that knowledge to help other students within her organizations.
She went on to serve as president of the PRSSA chapter at Ohio State in 2016-17, leading a board of nine other students and a membership of nearly 150 members. She then became an executive board member of The PRactice, working as the director of communication. She took her passion for networking and chose to expand the alumni connections of PRSSA. To implement these connections, she planned two trips to New York City, allowing more than 25 students to go to New York City and meet public relations professionals and visit agencies in the city.
The New York trip had the goal of reuniting current students of Ohio State with alumni. Grubaugh found that this trip made alumni feel connected to the university again, and said that the goal of continuing networking relations with students was successful. Over the past two trips, 10 students have been placed with jobs and internships all over the country. She was later recognized by the university for her accomplishments from her position as PRSSA president and received the Outstanding Position Leadership Award at Ohio State.
“Winning the Outstanding Position Leadership Award was something I was really proud of because I was nominated by our faculty advisor, Mary Sterenberg,” Grubaugh said. “It was awesome to know that I had a team that believed in me and that stood behind me. I was really proud for the organization and to get our name out there on campus.”
Grubaugh said one of her first major influencers that shaped her way of life was Judy Smith, the real-life Olivia Pope from popular show “Scandal.” Grubaugh referenced the show as one of her early inspirations and said it sparked her early interest in the major.
Grubaugh also said her parents inspired her career path.
“My dad is in healthcare and my mom works in interior design. I took my father’s love for public speaking and leadership and my mom’s creativity, and found a passion in communications and public relations,” Grubaugh said.
Grubaugh plans to move to New York City after graduation.
“I have a passion to work with a big design company or with technology. The dream is to work at an agency that’s a merge of all my passions,” said Grubaugh.
Article written by student Karlee Detwiler
