������ʷ

������ʷ junior Laura Daronatsy has been elected to serve as the 2015-2016 national president for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) — a pre-professional society of more than 11,500 members with 330 chapters in the United States, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru. Public relations major Daronatsy is the first Biola student to be elected as president of PRSSA, which was announced at the national assembly in Portland, Ore., on March 14, 2015.

“I'm excited to serve the society to the fullest capacity I can because I love PRSSA and our members,” said Daronatsy. “In the deepest part of my heart, I'm a ‘developer.’ I want to see our members grow both professionally and personally. I want to walk alongside them during the dark moments and the delightful ones and help them thrive and shine in the PR industry and life beyond their careers.”

Daronatsy’s role as president will be to act as the principal administrative officer of PRSSA National while managing nine other students that have specific roles on the national committee.

Her vision for the society focuses on investment and authenticity. Daronatsy said she desires to “promote outreach among PRSSA and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) members by building authentic relationships based upon [the] profession and to guide each leader by empowering them for what they want to pursue in public relations.”

Daronatsy is the first Biola student to achieve the title of president for the national association and was the second to serve on the national committee this year.

“This is a significant moment, as she will be leading the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications,” said Carolyn Kim, public relations professor at Biola. “I’m incredibly proud of her and thrilled to see Biola students gaining leadership opportunities such as these within the world of public relations.”

Daronatsy is currently serving on the national committee as the 2014-2015 publications editor-in-chief for PRSSA National. In this position, Daronatsy manages the society’s blog, Progressions, as well as its tri-annual digital newspaper, FORUM. Daronatsy also acts as liaison for more than 30 PRSSA chapters and their presidents on the western half of the United States for national committee.

“Laura Daronatsy’s heart for leadership is inspiring. It’s not a role for her, it’s an opportunity to empower others and help them grow more into the individuals God created them to be,” said Kim.

Daronatsy will be inaugurated into her role as national president during the PRSSA Leadership Rally in Scottsdale, Ariz., May 29-31. Her position officially begins on June 1.

Written by Quinn Clark, Media Relations Intern. For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist, at 562.777.4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.