PRSSA Student Profile: Ciana Williams

Name: Ciana Williams 

Social media handles 

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cianawilliams 
• Instagram: @cianawms 

Where do you go to school and what are you studying? 

I attend Howard University as a Strategic, Legal and Management Communications major with a concentration in public relations and minor in Afro-American studies. 

What are your favorite things to do in the D.C. area? 

My favorite things to do are venturing to different areas, going to a museum, or visiting the waterfront. However, I still feel like I have a lot of exploring to do especially after being away from the D.C. area for over a year due to the pandemic. 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 

I enjoy hanging out with friends, working out, spending time outside, and watching documentaries. 

How long have you been involved with PRSSA, and why did you decide to join?
This is my second year as a member of PRSSA. I spent my freshman year as a journalism major, but switched to public relations in the summer before sophomore year. As a result of this transition, I wanted to increase my knowledge of public relations and meet more public relations students. I thought what better way to do that than to join PRSSA, and it has provided the opportunities and relationships that I was looking for! 

Tell us a little about your work as Creative Director for the HU PRSSA chapter.
As Creative Director, I create engaging designs and graphics to be posted on our social media pages, website, and email typically for when we have an event or organizational announcement. I also collaborate with the public relations director to drive engagement on our social media channels and for on-campus events. 

Are there any projects (PRSSA, internship, volunteer work or otherwise) that you’ve particularly liked working on? 

I really enjoy some of my current coursework. For example in my Public Affairs Planning and Management class, I am researching the impact of digital abuse on members of Generation Z and how cell phone providers contribute or can better contribute to combating this abuse. We conducted our own focus group and are going to pitch our research results to one of the companies at the end of the course. 

Can you tell us about an achievement you are proud of? 

One achievement I am proud of is becoming a member of Iota Phi Lambda, Sorority, Inc., Delta Phi Chapter. As part of this business and professional organization, I have grown significantly as a young professional woman and student and am inspired to have joined the ranks of so many enterprising women that came before me. 

What do you want to do after graduation?

After graduation, I want to work in public affairs where I can combine advocacy, community relations and public relations. After working and traveling for a couple years, I have aspirations of attending law school. 

Have you had any internships? If so, can you tell us about your favorite one?
Over the summer, I was a client services intern at the New Orleans Public Defenders office, where I visited incarcerated clients and assessed their physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions. Through this internship, I was able to see first-hand the impact of social movements, rebranding, and the media on organizations and how these factors can impact organizational goals and interactions with clients and the community. 

What’s one piece of career advice that you received or would like to share?
I was recently told by a recruiter that the most important skill for a young professional is to always be willing to learn and to be optimistic. I found this very impactful because I won’t always know everything and may face obstacles throughout my career, but as long as I am open and adaptable to challenges, then I will be successful.