The SMU CCPA Fellows play a vital role in shaping SMU CCPA’s communications, bringing creativity, expertise, and fresh perspectives to the table. They craft compelling content for SMUCCPA.com, including web pages, blog posts, and valuable internship and job listings. Stay connected by subscribing to CCPA emails so you never miss an update from the Fellows!
This fall, we’re excited to introduce ten exceptional Fellows who are eager to contribute their creativity, insights, and passion to CCPA. Keep an eye out for their work! If you’d like to learn more about the Fellows or request a story, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Precious Nibigigwe
Meet Precious!
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Precious is a senior double majoring in Public Relations & Strategic Communication and Psychology. She recently interned with Cultivate Entertainment Partners in Los Angeles, working alongside talent manager Corey Simon. This experience deepened her passion for talent management, though she remains open to exploring PR in the future. Beyond her professional interests, she also has a love for photography and the music industry.
“I’m so excited to work more closely with Professor Lee and the other wonderful Fellows in exploring stories and sharing them with our readers. Writing stories is a beautiful art form, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it! I love the creativity and expression it allows, and I’m eager to contribute my ideas and narratives.”
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Precious!
Katherine O’Connor
Meet Katherine!
Originally from San Francisco, California, Katherine O’Connor is a double major in Film and Communications with a specialization in Creative Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.
This summer, she worked as a creative intern at the sustainability investment fund, Elemental Impact, where she supported the communications team by organizing digital assets, brainstorming ideas, and assisting with a website redesign. In the summer of 2023, she interned at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival as an Artist Relations Intern, where she discovered her passion for production and the music industry. Thriving in fast-paced, competitive environments, she played a key role in guest communications, organizing gift baskets and dressing rooms, managing wristbands, and maintaining inventory data. This experience solidified her enthusiasm for a career in the music industry.
As graduation approaches, Katherine hopes to live near the ocean, pursuing her love for entertainment and sharing her creativity. She is thrilled to be a part of the Fellows team and excited for what’s to come!
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Katherine!
Emma Barrett
Meet Emma!
Emma Barrett is a senior from Bernardsville, New Jersey, double majoring in Political Corporate Communications and Public Affairs and Psychology on the pre-law track.
Last summer, she worked as a legal intern in Washington, D.C., for the United States Marshals Service. At headquarters, she was tasked with writing memos for the Chief Diversity Officer regarding the lack of resources for women in government and developing actionable solutions to be implemented next year. After graduation, she plans to leverage her networking and sales skills to launch a real estate career in Texas or Florida before attending law school to pursue corporate law. Known for her empathy and deep understanding of others, Emma is easy to work with and brings a creative, out-of-the-box mindset to everything she does.
“I am so excited to be a CCPA Fellow this semester and have the opportunity to sharpen my writing skills! The Fellows internship class is the second class I have had in my college career with Professor Lee. I have learned many digital communication and social media skills from his classes. I know that no matter what career I pursue in the future, taking this class will be vital to my success in communicating my ideas with other people.”
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Emma!
Mariana Villalobos
Meet Mariana!
Mariana, a senior from Miami, Florida, is majoring in Public Relations with minors in Advertising and Business. Passionate about strategic communication and digital marketing, she gained hands-on experience last summer as a social media manager at AerSale, an aviation company, while also contributing to the human resources team. Excited to continue expanding her expertise, Mariana is especially eager to serve as a CCPA Fellow during her senior year, further developing her skills in public relations and strategic communications.
“I am so excited to be a CCPA Fellow this semester and have the opportunity to work with Professor Lee. I have learned so much from him over the past year and truly look up to him as a professor. His guidance and expertise have been incredibly valuable, and I know this program will be an amazing experience. I look forward to gaining even more hands-on knowledge and growing my skills in public relations alongside such a talented group of peers.”
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Mariana!
Hank Minchin
Meet Hank!
Hank, a senior from Greenwich, Connecticut, is majoring in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs with a minor in Business at Southern Methodist University. He has built strong experience through internships at GAMCO Investors, Inc., Tourmaline Partners, and Minchin Buick/GMC, where he developed expertise in finance, client relations, and business strategy. An active member of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), Hank is passionate about both sports and business. Combining his academic background and hands-on experience, he aims to transition into the sports management industry, leveraging his knowledge in finance, marketing, and strategic communication to help shape the future of athletics.
“I am excited to be a CCPA Fellow this semester and have the opportunity to learn from Professor Lee. I look forward to gaining hands-on experience, expanding my skills in public relations, and collaborating with such a talented group of peers.”
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Hank!
Virginia Wall
Meet Virginia!
Virginia, a senior from Nashville, Tennessee, is double majoring in Public Relations and Strategic Communications and Fashion Media, with a minor in Journalism. She is also an active member and former executive committee member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. With experience in PR and social media, she has worked with Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand, and participated in the SMU-in-London program during Summer 2023. After graduation, she plans to stay in Dallas and pursue a career in PR.
“After taking two of Professor Steve Lee’s courses in Fall 2024, I knew I wanted to learn more from him and expand my PR and blog writing knowledge. I cannot wait to be a part of the SMU CCPA Fellows Program and learn from Professor Lee and my peers this spring in my final semester!”
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Virginia!
Mollie Essner
Meet Mollie!
Mollie, who grew up in Los Angeles, California, is currently a senior majoring in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, with a minor in Statistics. Last summer, she interned at FOX Entertainment in Los Angeles as an Experience and Design Intern, where she contributed to both in-person and virtual events. This experience allowed her to develop valuable skills in the entertainment industry, and after graduation, she plans to pursue opportunities in Los Angeles, New York, or Boston in the PR, entertainment, or marketing space. She couldn’t be more excited to make the most of her final semester at SMU, learning from Professor Steve Lee and collaborating with her peers.
This is Mollie’s second semester as an SMU CCPA Fellow, and she is excited to continue learning, growing, and collaborating with Professor Lee and her peers.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to give back to my community as an SMU CCPA Fellow again this fall. So far, we have exchanged creative ideas, shared humorous stories, and produced some fantastic content. I am honored to be mentored by Professor Lee, whom I look up to immensely. I am incredibly excited about what’s still to come!”
Welcome back to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Mollie!
Natalia Lomelin
Meet Natalia!
Natalia Lomelin, a senior from The Woodlands, Texas, is double majoring in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, as well as Public Relations and Strategic Communication. With experience as a public relations intern, marketing coordinator intern, and internal communications intern, she has developed a strong foundation in strategic communication and is eager to make meaningful contributions to the SMU community.
“Over the past two years, I’ve learned a lot from Professor Lee! For these reasons, I’m thrilled to work with him as an SMU CCPA Fellow! SMU has a strong commitment to ensuring that its students are ready for success after graduation. I am very thankful for the countless opportunities they have provided me to grow both professionally and personally. I can’t wait to give back and contribute to the community that has always supported me!”
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Natalia!
Henry Driscoll
Meet Henry!
Henry is a senior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, majoring in Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation with a minor in Real Estate. With experience in both the real estate and nonprofit sectors, he has interned with multiple commercial real estate companies and even started a nonprofit to support homeless individuals in Los Angeles. After graduation, he plans to return to LA to continue his career in commercial real estate.
“I’ve taken Professor Lee‘s class once before and now this one, and I can say that I’ve learned a lot from him. He is very committed to helping students and making sure they know the material. I’m excited for what this semester has to hold and how I can support the SMU community.”
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Henry!
Chantae Embry
Meet Chantae!
Chantae Embry is a dedicated student-athlete from Oklahoma, majoring in Corporate Communications & Public Affairs with a minor in Sports Management at SMU. As a player on the women’s basketball team, she is committed not only to her sport but also to leadership and community engagement. She serves as a captain for both her basketball team and Athletes United at SMU while also holding the position of Vice President of External Affairs for the Black Student-Athlete Committee (BSAC), where she advocates for the needs and interests of student-athletes within the community.
“I took one of Professor Lee’s classes last semester and really enjoyed it a lot. I’m excited to learn and grow from his expertise. I know it will be a valuable experience that will help me throughout life.”
Chantae is passionate about expanding her leadership skills both on and off the court. Through her involvement with BSAC and Athletes United, she is dedicated to creating meaningful change for fellow student-athletes while also preparing for a future in professional basketball. As a Spring CCPA Fellow, she looks forward to gaining new perspectives and insights that will empower her to make an even greater impact in the world.
Welcome to the SMU CCPA Fellows Team, Chantae!
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