Officers
Being an officer for PRSSA is a great opportunity to gain leadership and PR experience, and looks great on a resume. The chapter votes for new officers at the end of Spring semester each year. Click here to see a description of each officer position.
PRSSA 2008 - 2009 Executive Board
Genevieve Krier
President
Genevieve Krier is a senior from Ollie, IA, majoring in Communication Studies and minoring in Mass Communication. She has previously served as Vice President and Communication Director for PRSSA. Krier currently interns with University of Iowa Athletics and for University News Services as the Iowa State Fair Coordinator. Krier also works with the UI Athletics Hall of Fame as a trademark licensing intern, and serves as a Peer Advisor at the Pomerantz Career Center. As President, Krier hopes to foster higher levels of member involvement on PRSSA’s various committees and events; reach out to other fields of study and offer more professional development workshops for members. Aside from PRSSA, Krier is an active member of the Campus Activities Board. After her December 2009 graduation she hopes to jump into the job market and secure her dream job as an event manager for a vineyard or brewery, sports team, or event center. In her free time, Krier enjoys sports such as running, biking, boating and skiing, in addition to photography, drawing, sewing and music festivals.
Megan McIntyre
Vice President
Megan McIntyre is a senior from Davenport, Iowa, double majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication and Communication Studies. She was previously the editor of Focus, the chapter newsletter and a member of the Firm committee. McIntyre has completed internships with University News Services and Ignition Marketing. In addition, she spent the summer of 2009 abroad in Naples, Italy, completing an internship with Camp Adventure, a government-sponsored youth services program. McIntyre is currently an intern for UI Recreational Services and is also a member of S.T.A.T. and of the UI's Society for Professional Journalists, where she presides over the chapter newsletter. McIntyre’s goal for the coming year is to continue the immense growth pattern the chapter has experienced in the past year. When she graduates next spring, McIntyre plans to attend grad school. Ultimately, she hopes to work in a corporate or PR firm in the Midwest. When she has some free time, McIntyre loves to dance and take dance classes, shop, travel and just relax with friends and family.
Shannon Kane
Secretary
Shannon Kane is a senior from Webster City, Iowa, majoring in Communication Studies and minoring in Sociology. Previously, Kane has served as PR Director and been a member of the Firm committee. Kane is a Peer Advisor at the Pomerantz Career Center and interns at the University of Iowa Human Resources Department. Kane is a member of the Communication Studies Honors Fraternity, Lambda Pi Eta, and is on the UI Dean’s List. Expanding the chapter, attending many conferences and agency tours and continuing to learn are on Kane’s PRSSA to-do list for the upcoming year. When she graduates, Kane plans to begin a career in public relations and is interested in social media. Her other interests include running, scrapbooking and reading.
Natalie Dubs
Communication Director
Natalie Dubs is a junior from Lincolnwood, Illinois, majoring in Communication Studies and minoring in Sociology and History. Dubs was previously a co-Director for the Firm committee. She completed a summer internship with the PR department of Feldco in Chicago. As Communication Director, Dubs hopes to bring in a broad range of speakers and guests that members will be able to identify with professionally. Her career interests include PR and community liaison and when she graduates, Dubs plans to practice Community Relations for a small to medium sized firm in an exciting new city. In her free time, Dubs enjoys going to Chicago Cubs games, hosting backyard barbeques and meeting new people.
Kelly Trettin
Social Media & Design Editor
Kelly Trettin is a senior from Rockford, Iowa, majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has served on the chapter’s Firm committee, and was Account Executive for the Relay For Life campaign in the spring of 2009. Trettin is currently working as an intern at the School of Social Work, assisting the Development Coordinator with marketing and publicity. She is also involved with the UI’s Society of Professional Journalists and serves as the chapter’s Public Relations Director. Maintaining the chapter’s blog and Twitter sites as valuable resources for the chapter, as well as continuing to make new connections are Trettin’s goals as the chapter begins a new year. After graduation, Trettin plans to start a career in public relations. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, going for walks, reading, travel and cooking.
Paul Spooner
Firm Director
Paul Spooner is a junior from West Des Moines, Iowa, majoring in Communication Studies and Journalism and Mass Communication. Spooner has served on the Firm committee and was an intern for Airport Management in the Des Moines International Airport during the summer of 2009. During the school year, Spooner is a member of and Events Manager for Intersection, Iowa’s only all-male a cappella group. After graduation, Spooner plans to pursue a career in airport management or practice PR and Communications for an airport or airline.
Kelsey Thortsen
Finance Director
Kelsey Thortsen is a junior from Warrenville, Illinois, and is majoring in Marketing, with a minor in French. She is also earning her International Business certificate. Thortsen completed a summer internship as a Twintern for CAREEREALISM.com, where she learned about the advantages of social media. She works at the Writing Center when classes are in session. Thortsen demonstrates her versatile leadership abilities by also serving as the Vice President of PR for the Tippie Optimist Chapter. After graduation she plans to move back to Chicago and work in non-profit PR or sports marketing.
Brittney Wichtendahl
Public Relations Director
brittney-wichtendahl@uiowa.edu
Brittney Wichtendahl is a junior from Adel, Iowa, majoring in Journalism and International Studies. She has served on the chapter’s PR committee and has worked at the UIHC as a Psychiatry Medical Records Clerk since 2007. She also works at Which Wich and makes time for other student organizations, such as S.T.A.T. In the spring of 2010, Wichtendahl will study abroad in Germany. In her free time, she enjoys watching Family Guy, baking and eating sushi.
Melissa Rasper
Alumni Relations/Historian
Melissa Rasper is a junior from Wheaton, Illinois, and is double-majoring in Communication Studies and Anthropology. In the summer, she is a camp counselor in Wheaton, and during the school year she works at the popular Mesa Pizza in Iowa City. Rasper is looking forward to an exciting and productive year with PRSSA, and wants to emphasize relationship-building within the group. After graduation Rasper hopes to start a career in public relations. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and playing tennis.
Danette Kapler
Newsletter Editor
Danette Kapler is a senior from Waterloo, Iowa, majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Science. She has been active on the Firm and PR committees and wrote for the chapter newsletter. Kapler is currently a Client Services Intern at Mudd Advertising and has worked for the Waterloo Bucks as a Media Relations Intern. For the coming semester, Kapler wants to encourage more members to gain valuable writing experience by contributing to the chapter newsletter. Graduating in December 2009, Kapler plans to return to her Waterloo roots and work in public affairs or higher education. When Kapler isn’t busy with an internship, school or PRSSA, she enjoys going on road trips, watching sports, shopping and reading.
Hannah Lee
Markerting Director
Hannah Lee is a junior from Iowa City, Iowa, majoring in Marketing and Communication Studies. She is highly involved in the community, and splits her time between being a Student Senator, Vice President of Alpha Kappa Psi (a professional business fraternity), and a member of the Student Allocating and Budgeting Committee, and the Korean American Student Association. This past summer, Lee was an Orientation Student Advisor for pre-business and transfer students. Her goals for PRSSA are to increase our organization's visibility within the Journalism school and the UI as a whole and to attract new members. Lee's career interests includmarketing, media planning and advertisement. When she has a little free time, Lee enjoys running, baking and watching movies, as well as travel and eating ice cream.