Member Spotlight: Ellen Converse

Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Storm Lake, Iowa and graduated from Drake University with degrees in Public Relations and History in 2019.

What drew you to public relations in the first place?

I always knew I enjoyed writing and wanted to do it in my career in some capacity, but never knew what that would look like until I started at Drake. I took one Intro to PR class and was hooked! I loved the different levels and audiences of communication that public relations allowed me to work in. I especially enjoy working to adapt my writing to the different audiences and platforms that I’m targeting.

What has your career path looked like?

After graduation, I worked as a Marketing Coordinator at the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity ReStore for a little over two years. I am now a Social Media Coordinator at Strategic America and loving it!

How did you get involved with PRSA Iowa?

I was involved in PRSSA all throughout college so joining PRSA was always on my mind and a natural next step. I was interested in continuing to learn and grow in my field while meeting new people with similar careers. I joined the OctoPRfest planning committee to jump-start my PRSA involvement and meet more people.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

The best piece of advice I’ve received is that nobody is thinking about you as much as you think they are. This takes away any stress or awkwardness with decisions or actions that I make because in most cases, others won’t notice it just FEELS like everyone is noticing. This helps me feel more confident in making decisions and trying new things!

What do you like to do in your free time?

My main hobbies are reading and biking. Always looking for book recs and new bike trails! I also really love family time and am lucky enough to have my entire family in the Des Moines area.