Communication Studies Student Finds Her Path in Public Relations

Through internships and work as a publicity assistant, Emma Prophet has developed skills in public relations, event planning, and community outreach to prepare for her next step.

For Emma Prophet, attending Eastern Washington University was a natural choice. “I have quite a bit of family that are alums, and they had amazing things to say about this university,” she explains.

She’ll be following in their footsteps as she prepares to graduate this spring with a degree in Communication Studies: Public Relations. Throughout her time at Eastern, Prophet has taken advantage of hands-on learning opportunities that let her apply classroom concepts to real-world experiences.

She has interned with EWU Athletics’ Marketing and Communications Department, Academic Advising, and Human Resources. During her HR internship, she took on responsibilities related to recruiting and onboarding for several positions, gaining experience in the hiring process and developing her communication and organizational skills.

Prophet currently works as a publicity assistant for the EWU College of Professional Programs, where she continues to build her experience in communications, public relations, and community outreach.

One recent project involved creating a video featuring interviews with five EWU alumni from different professional backgrounds. The alumni shared their experiences at Eastern and offered advice to current students. The video was later shown to hundreds of incoming freshmen during New Student Orientation, allowing new students to hear how an EWU education can lead to different career paths.

“I love my job as a publicity assistant. I am really into event planning and community outreach. It aligns with a lot of my future career goals,” she says.

One of the things Prophet enjoys most about Communication Studies is the variety of career opportunities the degree offers. She also appreciates that her Public Relations emphasis enables her to focus on two areas she values: community outreach and community relations.

Looking back on her time at Eastern, Prophet says she has experienced significant personal and professional growth. Through her internships, campus involvement, and professional responsibilities, she has gained confidence, strengthened her time-management and project-prioritization skills, and become more direct and effective in her communication.

These applied learning experiences have helped Prophet better understand her strengths and the kind of work she hopes to pursue after graduation. As she prepares to take the next step in her career, she’ll leave Eastern with practical experience, a stronger sense of professional direction, and an appreciation for the opportunities that allowed her to grow both inside and outside the classroom.