After a 10-year career in healthcare public relations and journalism, Assistant Professor-Clinical Mary Sterenberg seeks to develop her students inside and outside the classroom as co-advisor to the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter at Ohio State, an organization that enables students to gain necessary public relations skills and networking experience.
“I love being a part of Buckeye Nation,” Sterenberg said. “I am very thankful to be part of such a great program.”
Sterenberg connects students to internship and job opportunities, helps oversee the group’s mentorship program with 40-60 student/professional matches each year and supports student networking in Ohio and throughout the country.
Sterenberg travels with Ohio State PRSSA students to New York City annually for corporate/agency tours and networking events. They also join peers and professionals from across the country each year at the PRSSA International Conference. Sterenberg received a 2021 Leadership Award from Ohio State Student Life for her contributions as an advisor.
“It’s satisfying to be able to spend time with students, advise them, and see how they develop throughout their personal and professional career,” Sterenberg said.
Sterenberg teaches various classes in the strategic communication major including the senior capstone course Public Communication Campaigns. She has secured Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Victoria’s Secret PINK, Crimson Cup Coffee and Pelotonia as clients for this course. Students develop campaigns for these companies, present them and receive feedback on their work.
“I’m so proud of the work these senior-level students have done – and much of it has been implemented by these clients,” Sterenberg said.
Sterenberg authored an open-sourced textbook called Write Like a PR Pro for her Strategic Message Design course through Ohio State’s Affordable Learning Exchange grant program. The textbook includes original videos and content from local professionals and saves students more than $34,000 in textbook costs annually.
In addition to her role at Ohio State, Sterenberg also freelances for Columbus CEO magazine and The Columbus Dispatch and runs SALT effect – a blog for moms of tweens and teens – with Ohio State Lecturer Kristie Sigler. She speaks professionally on various communication topics and leads training and writing workshops for public relations agencies.
Sterenberg also sits on the School of Communication’s Advancement Board and Alumni Engagement Committee.
“The students graduating from our school truly are the future of the journalism and communication profession,” said Sterenberg. “I’m so proud of the caliber of our students and the academic and professional experience they bring to companies from their very first day on the job.”
Article by Student Rachel Bond.
