Alumni Spotlight: Hannah Ross
Hannah Ross, Senior Account Manager at Spitfire Strategies
“What I love about my job is that every day I'm working with and for organizations that really want to make a positive difference.”
What was your undergraduate experience like?
At American, I majored in Public Relations and I minored in Justice. I was really interested in learning about the people who shape the public conversation about major issues. I was also really interested in social justice, including issues like criminal justice reform, which is why I chose that minor. Outside of classes, I did a combination of student activism and professional clubs, including AU PRSSA! PRSSA was essential to helping me learn more about the field, connect with peers and more experienced communication professionals and learn important skills like networking and resume building.
Where has your career path led you since graduating?
When I graduated, I worked in communications at a small foundation focused on issues related to entrepreneurship, philanthropy and next generation engagement. I did all things communications, from social media to blog writing to media outreach and much more. I really wanted to lean into social justice communications, so in October 2018 I started where I am now, at Spitfire Strategies, which is an agency that works with nonprofit and foundation clients.
What does your current role entail?
At Spitfire, I work on issues like criminal justice reform, racial justice, gender equity and education. I work with clients on a number of communications strategies, like press engagement, partnerships and organizational messaging. I also help with Spitfire's own marketing, overseeing the firm's social media strategy and other online outreach.
What’s one thing you love about your current job or working in public relations?
What I love about my job is that every day I'm working with and for organizations that really want to make a positive difference. They are working to end the gender wage gap, stop racist policing and over incarceration, reverse climate change, improve the education system, and building towards so many more ambitious goals for a more equitable world. In a small way, I get to help by equipping these groups with the strategy and support they need to advance their visions.
What’s your proudest accomplishment across your career so far?
My proudest moments have been when opinion pieces I've helped create for clients were
published in major news outlets and helped shape the conversation about important issues. There was one in particular when I helped someone tell the story of a family member who passed away and how their struggle illustrates a larger injustice.
What’s in the future for you?
I recently moved into a new role at Spitfire and I'm also coming up on four years in the professional workforce. Now that I'm not so brand new to the workforce, I'm thinking about how I can see myself as a leader, mentor and effective manager to my colleagues and to my peers looking to break into the communications field, and especially the issue-based communications world.
How have your experiences with PRSSA supported you in your professional career?
PRSSA was incredibly helpful in getting me on track at the start of my career. Chapter meetings offered a lot of helpful resources, like guest speakers representing different experience levels and industries, resume and interview skill-building workshops and networking opportunities. A particularly helpful event was when we heard from Mercy Chikowore from ColorComm about how to center equity, diversity and inclusion in public relations. The lessons, tips and tricks I learned in those events still come in handy today.
What advice would you give to current AU PRSSA members to prepare for a career in public relations?
My advice for AU PRSSA members is to really take advantage of the events and networking opportunities. I also recommend looking for paid internships as a way to explore your interests. I did internships that were each totally different from the other (issue areas included heart health, affordable health care, public affairs and philanthropy) but they all helped me build professional skills, learn more about important issues, understand how to work with different management styles - and they helped me get a better sense of what I did (and didn't) want in a future job.
Fun fact!
I've been wanting to try out kickboxing for the longest time, and I never got around to it. The privacy of quarantine and wealth of workout videos on YouTube finally got me there and that's been my new at-home hobby (I'm working through a little ~I went too hard on the 1-2 punches~ soreness as we speak).
Hannah is a senior account manager at Spitfire Strategies, supporting nonprofits working in issues like criminal justice reform, gender equity, racial justice, public interest tech and more, on strategies including media relations, writing, social media, and more. She also oversees Spitfire’s social media channels and supports the firm’s efforts to market itself online. Prior to Spitfire, Hannah did communications for a small foundation, leading its social media and blog content creation and supporting its digital, media and thought leadership strategy.
