2010 PRSSA National Conference: Conference Committee

Jessica Noonan Janise Wilkerson Monica Karkhanis
Ashley Wolos Jasmine Hood Rhia Pumhirun Shani Lewis
Click on the names to learn more about each one of the Commmittee members.

The 2010 PRSSA National Conference Committee is from American University, University Of Maryland, College Park, and Howard University

Jessica Noonan
American University
Conference Co-Director
Following in the footsteps of her late father, Jessica Noonan is pursuing a career in corporate public relations. As a junior at American University she is studying toward a dual degree in Public Communication and Business Administration in Marketing.
As vice president of events for her PRSSA Chapter, she has created numerous events to inspire her fellow members toward a career in the public relations field. Her events have included firm tours and a networking event entitled Professionalism and Networking in the Next Decade. The event drew from members’ and American University’s contacts to bring a panel including Pam Jenkins, CEO of Powell Tate. She also worked to build her Chapter calling on her Brothers from Alpha Kappa Psi, AU’s co-ed professional business fraternity.
Within the fraternity, Noonan continued her passion for communication; learning to build her business and communication skills as historian of her pledge class and rush/marketing liaison of Spring rush.
Noonan is the type to plan, articulate and deliver on promises. Her decisive and goal-oriented character has led her to the 2010 National Conference. She looks forward to continuing such characteristics at internships and beyond.

Rhia Pumhirun
University Of Maryland, College Park
Conference Co-Director
Rhia Pumhirun is a senior communications major with a public relations concentration at the University of Maryland. Born and raised in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, she must thank her family for being the foundation to her motivation to succeed in everything she pursues.
Pumhirun recently discovered her interest in public relations after shuffling through majors including English, business and art. Her leadership, writing and graphic design skills led her to pursue a career in public relations where all her interests could combine. Apart from her academics and PRSSA, she is a member of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., Tau Chapter and was the chapter's youngest president. She also works as a graphics specialist for the Department of Transportation at the University of Maryland.
She will be graduating in December 2010 and hopes to find public relations and design/layout work either in the Washington D.C. or New York City area. She aspires to travel the world and one day start her own business.

Janise Wilkerson
Howard University
Finance Director
Janise Wilkerson is a vibrant, young student yearning to learn and overcome challenges. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., she is a junior at Howard University majoring in public relations. Her love for spending time with family and friends contributes to her social nature. Wilkerson also hopes to work as a public relations professional in the entertainment industry.
Wilkerson has been a member of PRSSA since fall 2008 and currently sits as the programs director for 2009–2010 school year. She is currently on the Dean’s List and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Wilkerson loves to be around people and stay involved; whether its community service or showing her school spirit. She continues to stay motivated by keeping a positive attitude and remembering to treat every day as a learning experience.

Ashley Wolos
American University
Communications Director
Ashley Wolos is a senior public communications and marketing student at American University. Through her internships she has learned which direction she wants to lead her career. She interned with her state Congressman Richard Neal of Massachusetts and also at August, Lang & Husak, an agency focused on creating positive social change.
After growing up in New England, Wolos knew she wanted to experience a different city. She loves living in Washington D.C. and hopes to continue to do so for some time while pursuing a career in social marketing for either the federal government or a nonprofit association.
Wolos helps prospective students discover all that the school of communication and American University has to offer as an SOC ambassador. She currently serves as president of AU’s Chapter. When she joined PRSSA as a freshman, she never imagined leading such an amazing group of young professionals and is truly honored to do so. She had enjoyed being a part of PRSSA and is grateful for having the opportunity to work with past and present e-board members, their wonderful advisor and the National Conference committee.

Shani Lewis
University Of Maryland, College Park
Program Director
Shani Lewis is a senior at the University of Maryland majoring in communication on the public relations track. She knew her love for writing, planning events and working closely with people were excellent traits for working in the public relations field. After her sophomore year, Lewis earned her first internship at the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, located in her hometown of Princeton, N.J. Her experience at the Red Cross taught her about the realities of public relations and working with crises.
Lewis has been a member of PRSSA since her freshman year, creating and updating the chapter’s bulletin board, along with serving on the executive board as historian. She has assisted her chapter by setting up fundraisers and attended the last two National Conferences in Detroit and San Diego.
After spending the Spring semester of her junior year in Madrid, Spain, Lewis looks forward to earning more internships and trying to help build her PRSSA Chapter. After graduating in Spring 2011, Lewis hopes to work in an agency or major company in New York, D.C., or even abroad.

Monica Karkhanis
University Of Maryland, College Park
Co-Program Director
Monica Karkhanis is a junior communication major with a focus in public relations at the University of Maryland. Karkhanis was born and raised in Houston, Texas and has always carried a strong drive to succeed and a persistence to achieve every task and goal. As a student at UMD, Karkhanis holds a position in the university’s 12-member high riser council, which organizes and manages promoting the university to prospective students. Karkhanis was recently appointed to be a Teaching Assistant for her public relations writing course and was elected as the new PRSSA treasurer for the 2010–2011 school year.
Along with university activities, Karkhanis has always had a strong passion to help the less fortunate. As an avid volunteer for the Save Darfur foundation she has raised a substantial amount of donations for victim relief funds in Darfur through producing and arranging benefit concerts in her local community. Another passion of Karkhanis’s resides in music, where she reported for a local Baltimore, Md., music magazine, Scene Trash. She currently assists record labels through various means of promotions. As a promotions representative for Capitol Records, Karkhanis is in charge of promotion in the Washington D.C. area for several music venues and artists.
Karkhanis hopes to travel abroad in the near future and to take advantage of any public relations related opportunities to expand her knowledge and experience.

Jasmine Hood
Howard University
Hospitality And Logistics Director
Jasmine Hood is currently a junior at Howard University trying to obtain her Bachelors degree in Journalism with a concentration in public relations. Born and raised in the south, suburban area Harvey, Ill., Hood started and finished her high school career at Kenwood Academy, located on the campus of the University of Chicago. Starting in her high school years, Hood gained an interest in communications due to her extensive involvement in social organizations.
Coming from the “windy city” Chicago, Ill., Hood arrived at Howard University eager and ready to explore the world of public relations. At Howard University, Hood has been a part of public relations teams for organizations such as the Chicago Peoples Union. She recently joined the general body of Howard University’s D. Parke Gibson Chapter of PRSSA in fall 2009. Hood hopes to gain much experience in fashion industry public relations and will continue to strive for excellence.


	Jessica Noonan American University Conference Co-Director Following in the footsteps of her late father, Jessica Noonan is pursuing a career in corporate public relations. As a junior at American University she is studying toward a dual degree in Public Communication and Business Administration in Marketing. As vice president of events for her PRSSA Chapter, she has created numerous events to inspire her fellow members toward a career in the public relations field. Her events have included firm tours and a networking event entitled Professionalism and Networking in the Next Decade. The event drew from members’ and American University’s contacts to bring a panel including Pam Jenkins, CEO of Powell Tate. She also worked to build her Chapter calling on her Brothers from Alpha Kappa Psi, AU’s co-ed professional business fraternity. Within the fraternity, Noonan continued her passion for communication; learning to build her business and communication skills as historian of her pledge class and rush/marketing liaison of Spring rush. Noonan is the type to plan, articulate and deliver on promises. Her decisive and goal-oriented character has led her to the 2010 National Conference. She looks forward to continuing such characteristics at internships and beyond.

	Rhia Pumhirun University Of Maryland, College Park Conference Co-Director Rhia Pumhirun is a senior communications major with a public relations concentration at the University of Maryland. Born and raised in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, she must thank her family for being the foundation to her motivation to succeed in everything she pursues. Pumhirun recently discovered her interest in public relations after shuffling through majors including English, business and art. Her leadership, writing and graphic design skills led her to pursue a career in public relations where all her interests could combine. Apart from her academics and PRSSA, she is a member of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., Tau Chapter and was the chapter's youngest president. She also works as a graphics specialist for the Department of Transportation at the University of Maryland. She will be graduating in December 2010 and hopes to find public relations and design/layout work either in the Washington D.C. or New York City area. She aspires to travel the world and one day start her own business.

	Janise Wilkerson Howard University Finance Director Janise Wilkerson is a vibrant, young student yearning to learn and overcome challenges. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., she is a junior at Howard University majoring in public relations. Her love for spending time with family and friends contributes to her social nature. Wilkerson also hopes to work as a public relations professional in the entertainment industry. Wilkerson has been a member of PRSSA since fall 2008 and currently sits as the programs director for 2009–2010 school year. She is currently on the Dean’s List and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Wilkerson loves to be around people and stay involved; whether its community service or showing her school spirit. She continues to stay motivated by keeping a positive attitude and remembering to treat every day as a learning experience.

	Ashley Wolos American University Communications Director Ashley Wolos is a senior public communications and marketing student at American University. Through her internships she has learned which direction she wants to lead her career. She interned with her state Congressman Richard Neal of Massachusetts and also at August, Lang & Husak, an agency focused on creating positive social change. After growing up in New England, Wolos knew she wanted to experience a different city. She loves living in Washington D.C. and hopes to continue to do so for some time while pursuing a career in social marketing for either the federal government or a nonprofit association. Wolos helps prospective students discover all that the school of communication and American University has to offer as an SOC ambassador. She currently serves as president of AU’s Chapter. When she joined PRSSA as a freshman, she never imagined leading such an amazing group of young professionals and is truly honored to do so. She had enjoyed being a part of PRSSA and is grateful for having the opportunity to work with past and present e-board members, their wonderful advisor and the National Conference committee.

	Shani Lewis University Of Maryland, College Park Program Director Shani Lewis is a senior at the University of Maryland majoring in communication on the public relations track. She knew her love for writing, planning events and working closely with people were excellent traits for working in the public relations field. After her sophomore year, Lewis earned her first internship at the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, located in her hometown of Princeton, N.J. Her experience at the Red Cross taught her about the realities of public relations and working with crises. Lewis has been a member of PRSSA since her freshman year, creating and updating the chapter’s bulletin board, along with serving on the executive board as historian. She has assisted her chapter by setting up fundraisers and attended the last two National Conferences in Detroit and San Diego. After spending the Spring semester of her junior year in Madrid, Spain, Lewis looks forward to earning more internships and trying to help build her PRSSA Chapter. After graduating in Spring 2011, Lewis hopes to work in an agency or major company in New York, D.C., or even abroad.

	Monica Karkhanis University Of Maryland, College Park Co-Program Director Monica Karkhanis is a junior communication major with a focus in public relations at the University of Maryland. Karkhanis was born and raised in Houston, Texas and has always carried a strong drive to succeed and a persistence to achieve every task and goal. As a student at UMD, Karkhanis holds a position in the university’s 12-member high riser council, which organizes and manages promoting the university to prospective students. Karkhanis was recently appointed to be a Teaching Assistant for her public relations writing course and was elected as the new PRSSA treasurer for the 2010–2011 school year. Along with university activities, Karkhanis has always had a strong passion to help the less fortunate. As an avid volunteer for the Save Darfur foundation she has raised a substantial amount of donations for victim relief funds in Darfur through producing and arranging benefit concerts in her local community. Another passion of Karkhanis’s resides in music, where she reported for a local Baltimore, Md., music magazine, Scene Trash. She currently assists record labels through various means of promotions. As a promotions representative for Capitol Records, Karkhanis is in charge of promotion in the Washington D.C. area for several music venues and artists. Karkhanis hopes to travel abroad in the near future and to take advantage of any public relations related opportunities to expand her knowledge and experience.

	Jasmine Hood Howard University Hospitality And Logistics Director Jasmine Hood is currently a junior at Howard University trying to obtain her Bachelors degree in Journalism with a concentration in public relations. Born and raised in the south, suburban area Harvey, Ill., Hood started and finished her high school career at Kenwood Academy, located on the campus of the University of Chicago. Starting in her high school years, Hood gained an interest in communications due to her extensive involvement in social organizations. Coming from the “windy city” Chicago, Ill., Hood arrived at Howard University eager and ready to explore the world of public relations. At Howard University, Hood has been a part of public relations teams for organizations such as the Chicago Peoples Union. She recently joined the general body of Howard University’s D. Parke Gibson Chapter of PRSSA in fall 2009. Hood hopes to gain much experience in fashion industry public relations and will continue to strive for excellence.