Written by Carter Thweatt // Photo provided by Emily Stinnett
Several communication majors hit the road last week for a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, to visit alumni and attend a conference.
Public relations majors left for Nashville on Wednesday, Sept. 21, and spent a few days there before returning the following Friday. Students said the opportunity to meet with Harding alumni who work in public relations was too good to pass up. Junior Bailey Coffman was one such student.
“I decided to go because it was such a wonderful chance to connect with recent Harding alum in Nashville,” Coffman said. “We got an idea of what it would be like to work in the communications field at places like Bridgestone Arena and the Grand Ole Opry.”
Some students weren’t sure what to expect from the trip but ended up loving it. Junior Alaina Wolf said meeting the alumni wasn’t quite like she expected, but that this was a good thing.
“The conferences and meet-ups have not been as formal as I expected, and this has been for the best.” Wolf said. “They were each so welcoming to all of our questions, and they were so approachable.”
Those who went on the trip said it was cool to see tangible examples of what their lives could look like after college.
“My favorite thing has been getting to learn more about the day-to-day various work lifestyles that are available within my career field of public relations,” Wolf said.
Coffman had similar thoughts.
“I loved being able to see very tangibly what it’s like to work in the communications field and how Harding really is such a tight-knit community,” she said.
The public relations trip wasn’t the only trip Harding students took to Nashville last week. Dr. Andrew Baker, Mitchell Center for Leadership and Ministry director, and Lori Sloan, assistant professor of communications, took their COMM Ethics and Scripture class to Nashville for a conference, and Baker also brought his Christian Teachings class. The event was hosted by STORY Gatherings, an organization of creators and leaders working in a variety of industries to help “shape narratives and shape the future by telling stories that matter,” according to the organization’s website.
“There’s an author named Harris III, and in Christian Teachings, we’re using Harris’ book as a textbook,” Baker said. “He’s curating a conference called the STORY Gathering, and he asked for some help —- specifically, some people to serve as hosts. So our students are able to help out and get into the event for free. It’s a good deal for everybody.”
Baker said he’s always excited when he can attend this conference, but this year’s event was extra special. It was the STORY Gathering’s first in-person conference in two years due to COVID-19.
“We’ve taken students to the event for a couple years,” Baker said. “But it’s actually been two years since they’ve had a face-to-face event. I’m glad our students can have this great opportunity.”
Between public relations students checking out their possible dream jobs and COMM Ethics and Christian Teachings students attending the STORY Gathering, Nashville was certainly the place to be for Harding students last week.
