Heather Harder will oversee the Public Relations Student Society of America's national committee and lead the organization’s 11,500 members and 338 chapters.
Harder currently serves as national vice president of member services. In addition to running for national president, she led a public relations presentation for Charleston high school students, ran a day competition with Warner Bros. Television and led a leadership development session for 160 PRSSA members.
“PRSSA has helped launch my career and provided some of my best friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this Society at the national level,” Harder said. “Elon’s professors were great support in preparing for the election. I am excited to see how this will help the already strong Elon PRSSA chapter grow.”
Assistant professor Vanessa Bravo, who serves as Elon PRSSA’s faculty adviser, said Harder’s election is an honor for Elon and a well-deserved recognition.
“Heather is where she is now thanks to a journey of hard work, leadership, and positive attitude,” Bravo said. “She started in our chapter as a regular member in freshman year, became our chapter’s secretary during sophomore year, and was elected chapter president in her junior year. She also became engaged with PRSSA at a national level by attending two national conferences, two national assemblies, one leadership rally and, of course, by last year becoming the national vice president of member services.
“In other words, she is strongly prepared now to lead PRSSA as its president.”
During Harder’s term as Elon PRSSA’s president in 2012-13, the campus chapter grew its membership from 60 to 100 members. The chapter was recognized with the Chapter Pacesetter Award and, during the national conference in Philadelphia last fall, was one of a select few to receive the Star Chapter Award.