Applications Open for the 8th Cohort of Broom Student Fellows

The Glen M. Broom Center for Professional Development in Public Relations is accepting applications for its eighth cohort of Broom Student Fellows.

The Broom Student Fellows program is designed for upper-division public relations majors in SDSU’s School of Journalism and Media Studies who are ready to take initiative, build professional relationships and prepare for the next stage of their careers.

The spring 2027 fellowship will give selected students access to high-level professional development experiences designed to move learning beyond the classroom and into the working world of public relations.

“The Broom Student Fellows program is an investment in students who are ready to take ownership of their professional futures,” said Dr. Kaye Sweetser, director of the Broom Center. “Our fellows do more than learn about public relations. They meet the people shaping the profession, practice the habits that support long-term success and begin building the confidence to contribute meaningfully from the start of their careers.”

A fellowship built around professional growth

During the spring 2027 semester, Broom Student Fellows will:

• Participate in exclusive small-group meetings with public relations thought leaders.
• Attend local PRSA chapter events and take part in individualized networking opportunities with leading professionals.
• Participate in specialized job-shadow experiences.
• Receive professional development mentoring focused on knowledge, skills and professionalism.
• Receive paid travel expenses for an agency tour during the spring semester.
• Receive full funding for the Certificate in Principles of Public Relations, if eligible.

The fellowship is part of the Broom Initiative, a series of funded projects created to invest in people who are improving the practice of public relations.

That investment reflects the legacy of Dr. Glen M. Broom, who taught at San Diego State University for more than 30 years and educated more than 3,000 public relations students. Dr. Broom also helped establish the field’s hallmark definition of public relations through Effective Public Relations. The Center continues his work by investing in students who will carry the profession forward.

From classroom concepts to career confidence 

Recent Broom Student Fellows have described the program as a turning point in their professional development.

The Class of 2026 participated in professional conversations, agency visits, networking opportunities and job-shadow experiences in San Diego and New York City. Their experiences included visits with Allison Worldwide, Edelman and bread & Butter. They observed client work, collaboration and the day-to-day realities of agency life.

In reflecting on the program, Brooke O’Leary said that stepping into professional agency spaces helped her understand “what a career in PR can actually look like.”

>> Read the Class of 2026 fellows’ reflections and the report on their New York City agency immersion.

Other fellows have described the program’s impact in similarly concrete terms. McKenna Wecker, a member of the inaugural cohort, wrote that the fellowship “catapulted” her confidence and helped her become more comfortable seeking informational interviews and conversations with professionals.

>> Read the Class of 2020 fellows’ reflections.

The program connects students with Broom Student Fellow alumni and working professionals who share practical advice about building relationships, navigating the industry and beginning a career with purpose. Former fellow Alexis Hopper, now working in entertainment public relations, recently spoke with current fellows about researching industry professionals and creating meaningful connections.

>> Read Hopper’s advice for Broomies.

Preparing the people who will shape PR’s future

The public relations profession continues to need skilled practitioners who can build trust, think strategically and communicate across changing technologies and platforms. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 23,000 openings for public relations specialists each year, on average, from 2025 through 2035. 

The Broom Center believes preparation for that future requires more than technical ability. It requires curiosity, ethical judgment, adaptability, initiative and a commitment to relationships.

That is what the Broom Student Fellows program is built to develop.

Students who join the fellowship become part of a community that extends beyond one semester. They join a growing network of Broom Student Fellows and alumni working across agencies, organizations and communities. They also become part of Dr. Glen Broom’s continuing legacy: a belief that investing in people strengthens the entire profession.

Apply by Oct. 30

Applications for the Class of 2027 are due by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2026. Applicants must be upper-division undergraduate public relations majors in SDSU’s School of Journalism and Media Studies.

Interviews will take place in person on campus on Nov. 6, 2026. Interview times will be scheduled as applications are received and are first come, first served.

If you are ready to invest in your professional future, build relationships with public relations leaders and take your next step with purpose, apply to become a Broom Student Fellow.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Kaye Sweetser or Adriana Villa, chair of the Broom Student Fellow selection committee.