There are a few things that signal to our team that summer is upon us (even if the calendar doesn’t say so until June 20). Increased ice cream consumption, days spent outdoors and the start of our new internship cycle are all markers of this wonderful time of year. Our summer intern, Amelia McGowan, joins us from the University of Alabama’s esteemed PR program. We’re excited to have her as a member of our team, and want you to get to know a little about her!

• Amelia, welcome to the team! We have a strong history of stellar PR interns, and part of that history is based on a shared passion for the industry. What drove you to study public relations?
• • • When I started college, I knew I wanted to join a field that combined my love for journalism with my interest in the business world. When I discovered public relations, I knew it was a perfect fit for me. I love it when a client presents my team with a difficult task and we have to buckle down to solve the problem together; it makes accomplishing the task that much more rewarding. I also love the process of watching an idea and a plan for a client come to life! It makes you feel like you’re doing work that really matters. 
• A lot of schools have strategic communication or mass comms programs, but not as many have true PR programs. In your opinion, what sets the University of Alabama’s public relations program apart?
• • • The PR program at Alabama is unlike any other in the country. We have been ranked one of the top five communications programs in the nation, and I attribute most of that to our amazing professors who don’t just have a degree in the field of communications but also have real-world experience. Several of my professors worked for years in advertising or PR before transitioning into teaching, which I think makes their lessons so much more valuable. Learning from someone who not only teaches the curriculum but has also lived it is unparalleled. 
• What do you hope to learn in your time at Obsidian?
• • • As an intern, I hope to take in as much information about real-world public relations as I can. I work for a student-run PR agency at school called Capstone Agency, so I have a general sense of what an agency is like. However, I want to learn more. I hope to enhance my writing and social media skills while also soaking up as many lessons and tricks of the trade as possible. Public relations is my passion, and I hope my time at Obsidian brings that passion to life. 
• As a Collierville High School alumna, the Greater Memphis area is not new to you. But, experiencing a city as an adult can feel different. What are you looking forward to doing while you’re in Memphis?
• • • Memphis has been my home for as long as I can remember, but I’m hoping to visit new restaurants that weren’t here when I left for college. I’m living with my older sister this summer, and we haven’t lived together since before I was in college! I hope we can have some fun together and grow closer. Also, two of my best friends still live here, so I hope I can spend some quality time with them as well! 
• Summer isn’t all about work – there has to be some fun involved! What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
• • Okay, this is going to sound really lame, but at school, my sorority’s house mom started a knitting club. I thought it would be fun so I joined! It has become one of my favorite hobbies because it’s so relaxing. So far I’ve made two blankets, two scarves, and I’m currently working on a shawl for the winter! I think it’s so cool to make something with your own hands that people use every day.. When I’m not channeling my inner 80-year-old woman, I love watching my favorite TV shows “Suits” and “Outlander.”