QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Nerinx Hall High School
2015-2019
During my time at Nerinx Hall, I was truly able to discover myself. I created lifelong friendships, cultivated discipline and perseverance in order to achieve academic success, and received opportunities that changed my life. I discovered a hobby that I was passionate about in the theatre department and was lucky enough to be selected to perform at the largest theatre festival in the world: The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. This journey gave me experience interacting with people from various backgrounds as well as instilled the values of hard work and dedication in me, which were necessary to being a part of the group selected to perform in Scotland. I also honed my writing skills in high school. I took time to be creative and experiment with different forms of writing. I greatly enjoyed my time at Nerinx Hall and give it great credit to forming the person I am today.
Missouri State University
2019-Present
I have absolutely loved my time at Missouri State University so far. I have grown in ways I never prepared for and have been lucky enough to grow my leadership skills in several ways in college. I have been a Resident Assistant for one year and have involved myself in Dance Marathon, a nation-wide fundraising movement that raises money for children in local hospitals. Finally, I serve as the Marketing Chair for my sorority, Xi Omicron Iota. I manage all of our social media, upkeep our website, plan photoshoots, create video content, and maintain positive relations with other campus organizations. I have also been a member of the Honors College and have worked hard to earn a spot on the Deans List every semester so far. My time in college has challenged me in many ways and I am a better person because of it. To learn more about my time in college, click the button below.
Relevant Course Work
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Survey of Communication Theory
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Principles of Public Relations
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Interpersonal Communication Theory
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Communication in Organizations
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Persuasion
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Communication Research Methods
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Principles of Marketing
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Advanced Speaking in Professional Settings
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Writing for Public Relations
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Consumer Marketing Behavior
Experience
Account Executive at Moosylvania
January 2022 - Present
Marketing Intern at Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services
August - December 2022
Public Relations Intern at Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Summer 2022
As a Public Relations Intern for Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, I had the incredible opportunity to gain experience in various areas of PR that were new to me, including crisis communication, internal and external communications, community affairs, sports marketing, and more. The chance to work at the global headquarters of a huge company allowed me to work on projects that reached people across the globe, which is an opportunity I am very grateful for. Some examples of projects I worked on include conducting extensive research on key stakeholders and competitors, leading an internal communications campaign, event execution and promotion, writing internal and external content, managing community partnerships and sponsor requests, and more.
Audience Development Intern at 417 Magazine
August 2021 - May 2022
During my time as the Audience Development Intern at 417 Magazine, I had the opportunity to explore several of my interests within the Public Relations field. I have gained experience writing press releases, scheduling effective social media content, managing all sweepstakes and contests, preparing for and hosting events with community leaders, and conceptualizing social media tactics to promote engagement and involvement. This opportunity has given me vast experience in several areas of the public relations field and I have greatly enjoyed it thus far. Click below to learn more about my experience at 417 Magazine.
Student Content Creator at Missouri State University's Office of Strategic Communication
January 2022 - May 2023
As a Student Content Creator at Missouri State University's Office of Strategic Communication, I had the opportunity to focus on Instagram and TikTok and create content that promoted the university and the incredible things happening on our campus. I was able to familiarize myself with Missouri State's brand voice and how they wished to be portrayed on social media and also gained experience following brand guidelines while still being creative and innovative with our content. Additionally, I gained experience following trends and finding ways to participating in them, and a few months after I had started, I was proud to see that the percentage of people engaging with our videos had risen significantly. Finally, through a social media audit project, I earned skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting analytics and had the opportunity to present my findings to our team. Click the button to learn more!
Campaign Manager for Homecoming Queen Candidate
Fall 2021
In the fall of 2021, I served as my friend Chrissy’s campaign manager when she ran for homecoming queen on our campus of 24,000 students. In this role, I managed the campaign’s social media accounts, helped design and distribute flyers, banners, and buttons and photographed Chrissy at all of the homecoming events. I also supported Chrissy as a friend and handled various miscellaneous tasks that needed to be completed. I had a wonderful time being Chrissy’s campaign manager and earned many valuable skills. Click the button below to learn more!
Marketing & Communications Internship for ILLINOISouth Tourism
May - August 2021
I served as the Marketing & Communications Intern for ILLINOISouth Tourism, a tourism agency that covers 21 counties in southern Illinois. In this position, I created blog posts and assist in maintaining the website as well as partake in the creation of social media content. Additionally, I photographed local events in our community. I am so thankful for the experience I have gained through this internship. Click on the button to learn more about my time at ILLINOISouth.
Resident Assistant
August 2020-Present
I have been a Resident Assistant for one year, a position that has taught me great flexibility and responsibility as well as team work skills. As a RA, I have learned to deal with unexpected situations on the fly and stay calm under pressure. I have also gained experience in working with those who are different from me in an effective way. To learn more about my time as a Resident Assistant, click the button below.
Dance Marathon
October 2019-Present
Dance Marathon is a nation-wide fundraising movement that raises money for children in local hospitals. I work in the promotional side of Dance Marathon, so this experience has trained me in social media and website management as well as leading a team. I have held various positions within Dance Marathon, including the Campus Life Recruitment Coordinator, the External Director, and currently, the Public Relations Coordinator. The diversity in my positions has allowed me to gain experience in several areas of the Communications field. Working for this cause has truly changed my life and is an experience I am so grateful for. To learn more about my time with Dance Marathon, click the button below.
Retail - St. Louis Zoo & Dierbergs
January 2017-Present
At sixteen years old, I began my first job at Dierbergs, a local grocery store. I serve as a Courtesy Clerk, a position which involves bagging groceries, retrieving carts from the parking lot, maintaining the cleanliness of the store, and interacting with customers. This position taught me a great deal about exemplifying exceptional customer service and creating a positive experience for customers. I believe this will help me greatly in the future in my interactions with clients because I have gained experience in being positive and respectful to customers who may not behave in the same manner. In hopes of trying something new and getting more involved in the St. Louis community, I accepted a job as a Retail Associate at the St. Louis Zoo. I work as a cashier in the Safari Gift Shop, the largest gift shop on the zoo premises. This position has continued giving me experience in interacting with customers as well as allowing me to involve myself in the St. Louis community.
References
Sam Robinson,
RA Supervisor
Communication, leadership, and organization are among the best skills that Cela possesses, and I cannot think of any faults she has in her current work environment.
Sophie Clark,
Dance Marathon Director
Cela is the kind of leader who seeks to understand, values team members for not only what they bring to the table but also who they are, and understands the boundaries within any position.
Deana Butcher,
Former Professor
Cela is an outstanding student. I have had many great students in my 36 years of teaching honors classes, but Cela is at the top of my list.
Sarah VandaVeer,
Internal Communications, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
In just the few short months of her internship, Cela was able to make a deep impact, by diving in head first, being a team player and going above and beyond with every assignment she was given.
Kevin Agee,
Missouri State University Office of Strategic Communications Supervisor
Cela ranks among the best undergraduate interns our office has hired during the past five years, especially among students in their first semester with us. Cela showed a remarkable ability to adapt on the fly, which is a trait that will serve her well in this field. The social media industry changes daily, and Cela’s greatest skill down the road might be providing a steady hand in uncertain situations. She’s going to be a great leader.
Skills & Certifications
Skills
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Communication
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Organization
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Public Speaking
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Time management
Certifications
Proficiencies
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Wix
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WordPress
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iMovie
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Canva
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Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, & Outlook
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Hootsuite
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Wagtail
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Tweetdeck
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Sprout Social
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Later