Last week, over 100 students from across the Midwest and beyond gathered at DePaul’s Loop campus for the Midwest PR conference hosted by the DePaul Public Relations Student Society of America chapter. 

Major industry events like the PRSSA National Conference provide the opportunity to turn academic theory into a professional roadmap. Engaging in these spaces allows students to sharpen their career focus, test-drive different specializations, and perhaps most importantly, build a diverse network of peers and mentors who will become their future colleagues. 

For two full days, attendees stepped away from the classroom and into the industry, proving that the best way to predict your career path is to start building it through active engagement and intentional networking.

From paper to reality 

This year’s conference marks the seventh consecutive year DePaul has hosted, and when it came to planning, the PRSSA team aimed to meet the high standards of years past.

“DePaul has such a strong alumni network, and this conference is proof of that,” Stephanie Briggs, VP of Events said. “Every year we connect with new alumni, and these visits and panels help to establish DePaul’s reputation as one of the strongest PRAD programs in the country.”

The PRSSA team showcased their innovative thinking with this year's theme, "PR-Palooza," a nod to Chicago's iconic music festival Lollapalooza, bringing students from across the Midwest and beyond for a backstage pass to the public relations industry.

This year, students on the promotions committee worked hands-on with the board to bring the conference to life. Taking a step behind the scenes is a special experience because it allows students to connect with their peers, uncover what they want to get out of professional events and recognize just how vital that network can be throughout their career exploration.

“I love connecting with not only industry professionals, but my peers and people who are my age," Nashley Becerra, DePaul Junior and Community Relations member, said. “I feel like it's just as important to talk to the people who are going to be your coworkers, because at the end of the day, you're going to be growing up with them and building your skills with them.”

An unmatched experience 

From industry site visits and panel discussions to resume reviews and headshots, students gained insights from top communications professionals while building their networks. For DePaul students like junior Kahlia Williams, one of the standout experiences was the accessibility of having the conference right at their home school.

“Just knowing that DePaul, my home school is hosting and I don’t have to go far to be able to make connections and be at a conference some students and schools wish they had access to or travel to, I feel really grateful and I'm very thankful that DePaul even has a PRSSA chapter,”  Williams said. 

For many, the site visits were the highlight. Conversations with working professionals offered students a chance to explore new directions and feel less anxious about being undecided.

"Site visits. I think that was the most valuable experience I had at this conference. Just being able to see their work and talk to people there, not just for hiring, but their experience, how they came to that position and how everything is not linear," Becerra said.

Williams echoed that sentiment, sharing advice she received from a career professional at the Edelman reception that she felt applied beyond PR.

“You have to know what you want, you have to listen to yourself, ask yourself, do you want this? And for some reason, that just really stuck out to me. It’s a very simple thing anyone could say, but hearing from someone who did go through it is in a position I would love to be in the future, and to hear her say, listen, doesn’t matter what your parents say, what they want you to do. What do you want to do?” Williams said. 

Why attend and what you’ll get from conference

“PR-palooza” isn’t just about the site visits, panel discussions, and networking; it’s about what you take away from it. The impact of connecting with successful DePaul alumni can bring a sense of hope, understanding and a new perspective on your future. 

“I will say that it gives me a lot of hope to know that there are a lot of great industry professionals who came out of DePaul. For instance, there were three people on the Edelman panel from DePaul, and it was just so cool to see there are people in a position that I would love to be in after I graduate.” Williams said. 

DePaul's alumni network was on full display throughout the conference. Sadie Guffy, a 2025 graduate and Assistant Account Executive at RUTH, returned to pay it forward after attending the conference during her own DePaul years.
"Obviously we are professionals, but it doesn't have to be that serious. Especially with networking, you want to build real connections. You don't have to be so buttoned up. Keep it human. That's my biggest advice," Guffy said.

"As a young student, it's so easy to be super timid and freaked out. You don't have to know what you're doing, that's why you're here. Just give yourself credit. You're showing up to these things and so many people aren't. That's really the first step," Guffy said.