It is that time of year again. Homecoming is happening and with it the wave of school pride is coming. On a campus where we bleed blue you don’t often think of where the traditions and sayings we have come from. True Blue defines Georgia Southern and is a movement to encourage lifetime support for the university. But who came up with this idea? Well, Spring 2010 3 students were working on a project for their PR Campaign class when what is now “True Blue” began. Haley Higgs was one of those students.
As the newest professor in the PR department, she is a not so new face in the communication arts college. She graduated from Southern in 2011 with two degrees, one in PR and another in Creative Writing. After attending Kent State for her Masters, she has returned to teach at “her home”. She is a multi-legacy as both of her parents and her grandparents attended school here at Southern. Rather than going in the average corporate or agency world, she has chosen to commit her time to teaching and non-profits. Working for the Ronald McDonald House, Fostering Bulloch, and Broken Shackle Ranch just to name a few.
Her Campus was privileged not only to have this opportunity to interview her but also to have her as our new advisor on campus. She has made such an impact and it is an honor to be mentored by her.
Her Campus: How does it feel to come back to Georgia Southern as a professor?
Haley Higgs: Feels like coming home, it hasn’t been weird at all because I knew after graduation I wanted to come back,
HC: What was your timeline from graduation to where you are now?
Higgs: Graduated with dual degrees in May of 2011, in August 2011 I began work on my masters here at Southern, at Christmas I transferred to Kent State because they offered the PR degree with specialization in non-profit. I wanted a more specialized degree
HC: Did you feel your education at Georgia Southern prepared you?
Higgs: Oh yes, without a doubt it did.
HC: You attended Kent State right? Why did you choose them for your masters?
Higgs: They have one of the only fully online fully accredited masters in PR in the US.
HC: How does it feel to come back and see the work you did during your undergrad making a difference on campus?
Higgs: Honestly anytime I see anything associated with Eagle Pride or True Blue, it just fills me with pride, I can’t even put it even into words how much it means to me.
HC: How did you decide on Non-Profits?
Higgs: I have always been drawn to non-profits they have always been really close to me, I tried working with a firm in Atlanta, and I felt a little disconcerted. I felt like I couldn’t’ give 100% to my clients. I felt it wasn’t fair for my clients or for me. I did a stint with healthcare at a hospital, I loved working for them but healthcare PR is very complicated because of HIPPA and you have to be very careful of what you do in PR. But I couldn’t see myself doing that forever, I absolutely loved it but now I can just use it with non-profits. With non-profits it isn’t work for me.
HC: Do you have a favorite PR tactic?
Higgs: Oh wow, that is difficult, probably fundraising of some sort, because I love selling an organization a concept or an idea. I just really enjoy that aspect. I guess that is why non-profit fits.
HC: How have you used your second degree?
Higgs: PR is all about storytelling and so is creative writing; I feel like having the background in creative writing helps me to tell a clearer story. I understand it from a writer’s standpoint.
HC: Was it worth getting your masters
Higgs: Oh yes without a doubt.
HC: Did you apply to other schools?
Higgs: Not really, I had a safety net but I didn’t really need it, to be honest I don’t even remember what it was.
HC: How do you like working here in Sanford?
Higgs: I love it, I couldn’t ask for a better experience here, when I began school we were in a trailer and the latter part in Veazey and then to come back to teach here and students don’t know how fortunate they are to be here and I feel so fortunate to be here.
HC:What has been your favorite class to teach so far?
Higgs: Intro to PR.
HC: What about your time in PRSSA
Higgs: Beyond being involved here on campus I was elected to the national board along with eight students from around the country as the Vice-President. I was on the board my first year of my masters. I ran during my last year at Southern and served while getting my masters.
HC: Has PRSSA helped you?
Higgs: Yes, I am very strong advocate for PRSSA as it can absolutely catapult your career if you’re willing to put in the work.
HC: What advice would you give to women on campus, especially freshman?
Higgs: Growing up with Georgia Southern was such a big influence in my life, like Erk Russell I love the song “it is well with my soul”. From that I get that the good is going to come and so is the bad, so it is up to you to push through and take the next step