A group of Indiana Wesleyan University communication majors recently spent a day off campus meeting with public relations professionals at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Zoo. Funded by a Field Experience Trip grant awarded through the Life Calling and Career Office at IWU, the experiential learning opportunity provided students enrolled in Principles of Public Relations a window into their future industry.
Students made their first stop at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis—the largest children’s museum in the world—where they met with Kimberly Robinson, director of PR and media relations, and her team. The group toured the museum and learned how the museum’s communication team implements public relations best practices, including storytelling and crisis communication.
Next, at the Indianapolis Zoo, students met with Judy Palermo, director of public relations, and her team. Students explored the zoo and learned how their communication team maximizes the impact of social media and manages working with the media.
“I'm an advocate for experiential learning, which is learning through experience,” said Dr. Jen Bennett, assistant professor of strategic communication. “Offering these experiences gives students the opportunity to not only connect with professionals but to also see how what they are learning in class is being used in the marketplace.”
Kayla Mitchell, a freshman studying Strategic Communication, reflected on the experience: “This was an amazing opportunity. Being able to get out of the classroom and talk to professionals face-to-face in a facility where they apply their skills every day was beyond special. There aren’t many universities that offer opportunities like this.”
Bennett hopes students walked away from the day seeing a variety of opportunities they have in the field of strategic communication, having new professional connections within the field and understanding the connection between their in-classroom work and the marketplace.
“I want them to see that they are being prepared to lead in the strategic communication field,” said Bennett, “and that there is a place for them where they can lead and make a difference.”
To learn more about IWU’s Division of Communication and Theatre, visit www.indwes.edu/undergraduate/division-of-communication-and-theatre/.