Meet Ashley Schaller! 

January brings new beginnings, and at Obsidian, that means new interns! We added Ashley to the team at the first of the year, and she’s already bringing valuable skills and support to the table. As a graduate of the UofM and a previous St. Jude intern, she has a passion for Memphis and PR work – two requirements for success at our firm!

If you’re fortunate, you’ll have the opportunity to work with Ashley in the coming months. But until your paths cross, learn a little more about her from this Q&A!

The most important question in our office – how do you take your coffee?

Just a splash of half and half! 

As a newly minted PR graduate, what is one unique skill or talent young PR professionals bring to the workplace?

It sounds very Gen Z, but I think my knowledge of social media and understanding of user engagement is a unique skill I bring to the table.

What’s your go-to morning read?

Each morning I love to read The New York Times briefing article! It’s a quick way for me to stay in the know with things going on around the world.

If you had to choose a favorite social media platform, which would you choose and why?

I would choose Instagram. I love the layout and how you can easily showcase your brand and tell your own story.

Have you had your 15 minutes of fame? If so, what happened?

I haven’t, but maybe I’ll make it big someday. 

Did you have a favorite PR case study (good or bad) that you studied in college? If so, what was it and what did you take away?

One of my favorites was the Boeing 737 Max crisis. When this crisis happened, they didn’t take the time to acknowledge their wrongdoing, and they lacked concern for the people affected. Boeing does more than sell airplanes; they sell safety and reliability. Being in PR classes and monitoring their crisis management made me realize the important role PR professionals play in people’s lives and in the community. 

What do you hope to gain from your internship at Obsidian?

I’m hoping to learn more about client relations and how PR is used in different industries!