January President’s Letter

Dear PRSA NCC Members,

Happy New Year! As I begin my first month as President of the PRSA National Capital Chapter. I am honored to serve in this role and excited to lead the chapter alongside an exceptional Board of Directors and a dedicated group of volunteers who care deeply about our members and our profession. I know there is something uniquely energizing about living and working in the nation’s capital. Washington, D.C. is where ideas, policy, media, and storytelling intersect every day. Most mornings, you can find me on sunrise runs along the National Mall, taking in the monuments before the city fully wakes up, cycling on one of our many great trails. It is a reminder of why this region is such a dynamic place to build a career in communications. By day, I work near the U.S. Capitol at Johns Hopkins University, where I teach and collaborate with students and professionals who are passionate about the power of strategic communication. That same passion is what makes PRSA NCC such a special professional home. By night, you can find me enjoying a National Capitals game, as seen in the picture (We won in overtime on 1/13/2026!), and all the incredible restaurants, music venues, embassy events, and so much more our city has to offer.

This year, our chapter is placing a strong emphasis on increasing meaningful member engagement. We want PRSA NCC to be a place where members feel connected, supported, and inspired, through professional development, networking, mentorship, and/or service to the chapter. There is no better time to get involved, and there are many ways to do so: volunteering on a committee, sharing your expertise as a speaker or facilitator, or helping us design experiences that reflect the needs of today’s communications professionals.

Our chapter thrives because members step up to shape the quality and relevance of what we offer as the leading communication professional association in the DMV. If you are interested in getting more involved, I encourage you to complete our volunteer interest form or reach out to me directly by email (phernandez@jhu.edu). I would love to hear from you and learn how you would like to engage with the chapter this year.

We also have a few opportunities to connect in person in the coming weeks. I hope to see many of you at our collab upcoming ONE event in Navy Yard—please let me know if you are attending, as I would love to meet you in person (I’ll be wearing bright pink). In addition, we are continuing our Coffee Meet-Up Series in 2026, beginning January 27 at 8:30 a.m. at Kramer’s in Dupont Circle, in which I’ll be hosting. This is the one and only Coffee – Meet Up that will be open to non – members, so please invite a friend or colleague. These informal gatherings are a great way to build relationships and exchange ideas with fellow communications professionals. You can view the full Coffee Chat schedule on our website.

PRSA NCC is a community built by and for communications professionals at every stage of their career. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned leader, your perspective and participation strengthen our chapter. I am excited about what we can accomplish together this year and look forward to connecting with many of you soon.

Thank you for being part of PRSA NCC, and I hope to see you at an upcoming event.

Best,
Patricia (Trisha) Hernandez
President, PRSA National Capital Chapter