Rowan junior becomes University's 20th student named to PRSSA's National Committee

Rowan University junior Kimberly M. Ciesla has been elected to the National Committee of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

A public relations major from Eastampton, Ciesla was named national vice president of chapter development of PRSSA at its National Assembly in Austin, Texas.

Currently president of Rowan's award-winning Anthony J. Fulginiti Chapter of PRSSA, Ciesla is the 20^th Rowan student elected to the National Committee. Rowan senior Rebecca Timms currently is completing a term as national president of PRSSA.

The preeminent organization for public relations students, PRSSA boasts 10,000 members in 307 institutions.

"I'm excited to continue Rowan's legacy with PRSSA while serving as a go-to person for a society with 10,000 members," says Ciesla, who is pursuing a minor in journalism at Rowan. "It's a big responsibility, but I've never felt so committed."

Ciesla's responsibilities will include promoting national initiatives, coordinating leadership and chapter development workshops at national events, maintaining communication between the committee and chapters, and serving as a mediator when chapters experience difficulties.

The election process included a four-page application, a speech, and a question-and-answer period with delegates who represent the 307 chapters of the society and the current National Committee.

Ciesla's rise to the National Committee has been meteoric. PRSSA has become, she says, a huge part of her life. She has spent the past three years preparing to serve on the National Committee.

"People laugh at me when I call PRSSA my sorority, but it's the truth," says Ciesla. "The society changed my life and took me from just wanting to get a degree to aiming for something extraordinary."

In her Rowan career, Ciesla received both the "Outstanding Freshman" and "Outstanding Sophomore" awards from Rowan's PRSSA chapter. Last year, she was presented with the PRSSA National President's Citation and, this spring, she received the Linda and Jeff Pollock Public Relations Scholarship Award, donated by the founder of PRSSA's student-run firm, PRaction.

Her PRSSA work at Rowan has included chairing the chapter's National Organ Donor Awareness Competition, serving as a columnist for PRomo, the chapter's newsletter, and serving as vice president of finance.  Ciesla has held internships with The Star Group in Philadelphia and Unigo in New York City. She will begin another internship June 1 with The Campbell Soup Company.