Jessica Fine
Global Communications Merck Session: Lunch Keynote Jessica Fine leads Human Health Executive Communications at Merck and Co, Inc. She has responsibility for the development of global strategies, programs and multi-channel communications for the executive leaders of Merck's commercial and marketing organizations. She is senior communications counsel to leaders across the global business, is responsible for preparing leadership for internal employee engagements as well as external stakeholder engagement, including third-party groups and media. |
Dave Donovan
Executive Director DKC Session: The Changing Dynamics of PR in the ‘Always-On’ Era of Communication Donovan is a 20-year veteran of DKC and oversees the firm’s award-winning sports practice. He’s represented an eclectic mix of clients including Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, New York Islanders, Formula 1, Manchester City, Premier League, Val Ackerman/Big East Conference, Jay Williams, Ted Leonsis, Ken Burns/PBS Meta, Sports Business Journal, Sports Illustrated, BMW, UBS, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and Pro Football Hall of Fame. |
Kelly C. Gaggin
Assistant Teaching Professor, PR Syracuse University Session: Nonprofit Communications: You Can Make a Difference and a Paycheck! Kelly C. Gaggin, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the public relations department. She has more than two decades of experience in corporate and agency environments encompassing a multitude of industries, including education, health care, technology, defense, nonprofit, tourism/hospitality and financial services/banking. |
Anthony D'Angelo
Professor of Practice, PR Syracuse University Session: Six Axes of Convergence: How They’re Changing the Game for Communicators Anthony D’Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA, is a professor of practice in public relations, director of Newhouse’s Master’s Program in Communications Management, and of a new academic offering called the Financial and Investor Communications Emphasis. D’Angelo’s career includes leadership roles in the corporate, agency and not-for-profit sectors: ITT Corporation and previously for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Magna International, United Technologies and Sage Marketing Communications. His writing and commentary has been featured been featured in top media publications including The New York Times, BusinessWeek, the Financial Times, USA Today, CNBC, Reuters and more. |
Nacy Woods
Account Associate Real Chemistry Session: Young Alumni Panel Nacy joined Real Chemistry’s Digital Health practice group as an Account Associate during her final semester at Syracuse. She supports day-to-day account management, analytic and coverage reporting, social media copy, press release and byline writing, and award submissions. Nacy currently works on five accounts: Dassault Systèmes, Medidata, Surescripts, Better Therapeutics, and the Giants Community Fund. She was Firm Director for Syracuse’s student-led PR firm, Hill Communications, taking over as Firm Director during her senior year and participated in the 2021 Bateman Case Study Competition. |
Brad Horn
Professor of Practice, PR Syracuse University Session: Preparing for Success: Navigating Crisis Management with a Plan Brad Horn brings more than 20 years of public relations management and organizational communications and has served in senior public relations roles for non-profit organizations, at the intersection of sport, society and American culture. Horn has previously served as the vice president of communications and education for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the director of communications and TrueSport for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. He has also held management roles for MLB’s Texas Rangers and the National Hot Rod Association. |
Kayla Torrence-Johnson
Assistant Account Executive BCW Global Session: Young Alumni Panel Kayla is an Assistant Account Executive in BCW's New York Corporate Affairs practice who started her time at BCW as a Harold Intern for BCW's North America New Business Development and Growth practice. She has experience working with a wide range of leading Fortune 500 clients from commercial real estate, financial services and banking, consumer goods, and more. Across clients, Kayla has experience in new business, social and digital reporting, internal communications, media relations, account management, and influencer work. |
Jaclyn Grosso
Director, Communications and Community Relations Session: #OpenToOpportunity: Building a Powerhouse Network An Emmy-nominated producer, Jaclyn Grosso (she/her) spent more than a decade in strategic communications leadership roles at Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, she managed marketing efforts for the University's 150th Anniversary, led a student internship program and served as a DE&I instructor. Her communications and business operations expertise spans telecommunications, higher education, hospitality and medical solutions industries, in both Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations. She worked at JMA Wireless and led the company's transformational repositioning as the only American-owned 5G company manufacturing in the U.S. and expanded global employee communications celebrating Veterans and the company's 10-year anniversary. She currently serves on the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum Industry Relations committee, the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women executive leadership team, and is an emcee for regional events. In addition to her graduate coursework at the Syracuse University Newhouse School, she earned an MBA from Le Moyne College and a B.S. in Communications from Ithaca College. |
Sankalp Sharma
PRSSA National Vice President of Chapter Development PRSSA National Session: Leadership Summit Sankalp Sharma is the PRSSA National Vice President of Chapter Development. He is a junior, studying Public Relations at California State University-Sacramento. As the Vice President of Chapter Development, San has focused on working with Chapters to build a stronger PRSSA community. Aside from that, he leads the team of District Ambassadors and is currently collaborating with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to create a PRSSA Community Service Initiative. This is his third year being involved in PRSSA and says it has been the highlight of his college journey. Before being elected to the National Committee, San served on the PRSSA Sac State board for two years and held multiple positions during his time. Outside of work and PRSSA, you can find San relaxing in a coffee shop or finding ways to get more involved in the community around him. |
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Carrie Welch Media Studies graduate student & Co-Owner of Little Green Pickle Session: I Just Can't Quit You, PR. Carrie Welch is a Media Studies graduate student in the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She is pursuing her masters degree and a dream to teach the next generation what she has learned during her 20+ years in communications. Her current research interests include representations of feminism in children’s media, and how artificial intelligence influences fine art. Prior to grad school, she recently served as an Adjunct Professor at Washington State University Vancouver, teaching public relations and marketing classes. In her previous PR life, Carrie co-owned a public relations and web agency in Portland, Oregon called Little Green Pickle. At its height, the agency provided public relations, influencer engagement, event, creative and web services for 30+ exciting food and beverage brands in the Pacific Northwest and around the country. She also co-founded the Feast Portland food and drink festival in 201. The festival welcomed 20,000 attendees and 100 chefs at 40 events over four days. Carrie’s experience in starting these two companies drew on her 10-year career at Food Network where she served as Vice President of Public Relations. While there she headed up all consumer press, talent relations, digital PR, social media, charitable efforts, and launched successful shows for now ubiquitous celebrity chefs Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Ina Garten, Alton Brown, and Duff Goldman. Carrie helped create the New York City Wine & Food Festival with Share Our Strength, The Food Bank for NYC and Southern Wines & Spirits, which continues to raise over $1 million to help end childhood hunger each year. She also co-initiated Food Network's first public affairs program, "Good Food Gardens," that brought teaching gardens to underprivileged kids and families in schools and community centers. Named one of the Portland Business Journal's "40 Under 40" and one of The Daily Meal's "60 (Plus) Coolest People in Food," Carrie is now exploring Syracuse with her wife, two kids and a small chihuahua pug. |
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