Samford Journalism and Mass Communication alumna  Liann Cates `17 has created a fund to encourage student participation in Birmingham-area professional networking events. Cates said she created the Student Networking Fund to share a college experience that was especially meaningful for her, and which is also important to local professional groups.

“It is a great opportunity for students to utilize PR skills at monthly professional luncheons such as Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Public Relation Council of Alabama (PRCA,) American Marketing Association Birmingham Chapter (AMA) or Rotaract,” Cates said. “I established long-lasting connections in Birmingham as a student that are still invaluable to me as a young professional.”

Cates was a regular attendee at professional luncheons and events, and as a result learned about internships and job opportunities and developed mentoring relationships she said have been helpful to her in this early part of her career. She now works in corporate physician marketing for Comprehensive Pain Specialists, the largest pain management group in the country.

Cates’ fund is open every month to any JMC student on a first come, first served basis, with preference given to those who have not used the benefit yet. One student per month may use the benefit at the professional organization of the student’s choice.

Students seeking more information about the Student Networking Fund should contact JMC professor Betsy Emmons.