Brenna Parker is the girl who does it all! From internships in Washington D.C to an International Storytelling trip to Ghana, Brenna gives us a reflection on her time here at Kent State.
A Look At Brenna Parker
Major: Public Relations
Year: Senior
Instagram: @brennaparker1
Her Campus: So Brenna, tell us where you’re from…
Brenna Parker: Well, my dad worked in the publishing industry, so we kind of always moved around a lot. I remember between seventh and ninth grade I was in four different school districts. I think moving around a lot I had to learn how to communicate with people and make a strong introduction and get to know people. I think moving around a lot helped me realize you’re not better than anybody, you have to really make an effort and be genuine with people.
HC: Would you say moving around and meeting so many new people helped you strive within your major?
BP: I would think so. I grew up in a house where we learned how to speak to grown-ups when we were young and to be cordial and to respect everybody. I actually started off wanting to be a magazine journalist but I switched to PR because of Stephanie Smith. I really wanted to use my education to make a difference and give back to other people.
HC: You mentioned Professor Stephanie Smith, would you consider her one of your biggest mentors?
BP: Oh, yes I love her! She is like the PR Mom for me, she’s so influential. I can always reach out to her if I need help with finding internships or figuring out professional development advice.
HC: So, you traveled to Ghana very recently, tell us about your trip!
BP: The course is called International Storytelling and it is run through the College of Communication and Information. This year was the first year where they brought all of the different majors within the college together. We made the plan to go to Ghana for eleven days and focus on a story of our choosing. I was approached by Stephanie Smith who told me this would be a great opportunity for me. So, I applied for the trip and pitched my story to really focus on women and girls’ education.
HC: What was one of your favorite experiences in Ghana?
BP: My favorite was getting to experience the culture of Ghana. We went into this class very open-minded to what the culture was going to be like and when we got there, there was no trash systems. There were no street signs. It’s little things like that which you don’t think about. It really makes you appreciate everything we have in America. Nothing prepared me for a child coming up to my car and begging for money and food. That really took me back. We were working with a school called Lila’s Child Care Foundation and I was interviewing the parents of these kids, and they don’t speak English, they speak Twi. The parents were asking if I can help find their children jobs in America and I thought, “I’m a child myself!”. That was just heartbreaking.
Aside from Brenna’s trip to Ghana, she has also interned with Philanthropy Roundtable, a nonprofit organization out of D.C which works to strengthen free society and uphold donor intent. Brenna worked on their organization called the Alliance for Charitable Reform. This was a nine-week internship last summer and her title was Communications and Policy Intern. Brenna has also gotten the opportunity to work for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016, meet Bernie Sanders. She also is extrememly involved in PRSSA. Brenna has been an employee for Residence Services here on campus the past three years serving as an RA. Obviously, Brenna has a very bright future ahead of her and we wish her the best of luck!