It is amazing that in just a few days, I will begin my fourth year in the PhD program at the University of Tennessee. Wow! That is really amazing – I remember like it was yesterday I was just finishing up my internship in South Africa and just got my Master’s degree in PR from USC. My time in Tennessee has been a wonderful one – both as a researcher, professional, and a student. This next year is going to be pretty busy in terms of research, working on my dissertation (which I successfully defended my proposal last week – woo hoo!), teaching PR Principles, and of course being on the job market. There seems to be a lot of things going on, but that is what makes it very exciting for me. 🙂
Touring the Biltmore Estate in NC
After my dissertation proposal defense last Thursday, I had the opportunity to meet some of the incoming PhD students at Tennessee during their orientation. We have about 15 students coming in, and everyone seemed energetic and engaged to be part of the program here at Tennessee. It was also good talking to them about what it was like to be a PhD student at Tennessee, and what were some of the things that they needed to know to help them during their first year. I definitely had flashbacks when I was a first year doctoral student – a lot has happened since I walked on campus back in August 2007. I have been able to travel and present at various research conferences around the world (China, Greece, The Netherlands, and Brazil), teach several courses, conduct service (PR Day), and be part of a dynamic and supportive academic department and college. It was a lot of fun sharing my experiences with the students! 🙂 After going to the PhD orientation – I spent the weekend with my friends Sabrina and Monica and sister Kristin at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. I had never been to the estate, and it was something that I had always wanted to do. It was a lot of fun – we got a chance to go horseback riding, tour the house, and have dinner at the winery. It was a great way to celebrate the end of summer with good friends and family! 🙂
Tennessee starts classes on Wednesday – amazing how fast this summer has gone! 🙂 I will be teaching my own section of PR Principles this upcoming year – I taught the PR Cases course during the last academic school year, and now I have the opportunity to teach the introduction to Public Relations course. I am very excited about this because it was this class at Florida that really jumpstarted my interest and passion for Public Relations. It was back in the fall of 2002 (wow, that was eight years ago! Makes a girl think! :)) and I remember changing my major from Psychology to Public Relations. I wonder sometimes what would have happened if I did not get into Public Relations – but I am very glad that I did. It is a field that I have loved being a part of in research, practice, and in teaching – and each day is never the same. From studying crisis communications and social media with research to teaching the future bright minds in the field, to bringing in both of these perspectives into consulting to other professionals in the industry – it is all very rewarding and enjoyable.
Hope you all are having a wonderful day.
Best Wishes,
Karen
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