Dr. Bailey Thompson becomes new professor of SFA's Mass Communications Department
Written By: Meghan Reily | December 1, 2017
Dr. bailey Thompson, head of the Public Relations Student Society of America, at Stephen F. Austin State University, became the newest professor in the Mass Communications department as of fall 2017.
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In an interview which took place on Thursday, November 30, Thompson discussed her interest in public relations, as well as her journey to her dream career.
Thompson, 29, will be teaching public relations courses, as well as social media and writing intensive courses.
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Thompson received her degree in 2011, from Southwestern University. Thompson said, "It's a really smart, liberal, and private arts school in Georgetown, Texas." Once she graduated, she attended a law school in Oklahoma for about a year and a half, until she decided to receive her Masters in sports management.
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After she received her Masters degree, Thompson was not yet ready to stop learning. "I was like man, cool, let's just keep going with school and go all the way," Thompson said. "So then I got my PhD and graduated in August."
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She continued to discuss that earning her degrees was a challenge, however she is glad that she never gave up. "It was the best decision I ever made because it taught me a lot about how to manage time and how to work hard," Thompson said. "Even though if you work hard sometimes you aren't successful." She continued to express that the most valuable lesson she had learned was to be humble.
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Thompson is currently the head of PRSSA on SFA's campus, which is an organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Thompson said, "PRSSA is all about trying to figure out how to get the word out about public relations and to get more students to join." Thompson said that PRSSA is a great way for students to get involved and that it is a great resource to have on students' resumes.
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"There aren't a lot of internship opportunities in Nacogdoches, so PRSSA is a great tool because it allows public relations students to gain more experience by working with clients, as well as building content for their portfolio," Thompson said. "I think it's hard to do it in a small town because the options are limited, but it creates a way to problem solve. Something local is a great place to start out and jump start their career."
(Source: Stephen F. Austin State University's Mass Communication Department) Faculty and professors of the Mass Communications department.
Thompson found an interest in public relations when she discovered her passion for writing.
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Thompson chose to apply for a career at SFA because of the campus lifestyle and the community. "SFA stands out because the students are unique and everyone is welcoming," Thompson said. "I also like how the classes are smaller because it allows me to get to know them better."
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With public relations continuously changing, Thompson closed the interview by sharing her thoughts on how she plans to keep the content for her courses up-to-date.
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"Public relations is always changing, but one thing I do is study different sources and read every day," Thompson said. "The advice I want to give my students is to believe in yourself and treat school as if it's their job."