Public Relations Area Head Sadie Wilks Named LSU Manship School’s Internship Coordinator

January 8, 2021

BATON ROUGE—Sadie Wilks, public relations area head and an instructor at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication, has been named the School’s new internship coordinator. In this position, Wilks serves as an essential resource for Manship School students in pursuit of professional, hands-on experience, including internships for course credit.

“Sadie Wilks brings a wealth of professional experience and industry connections to this position, along with an amazing, long-term plan for how to grow the program,” said Josh Grimm, interim dean of the LSU Manship School. “She is an exceptional mentor for so many of our students, and I’m thrilled to have her in this new role.”

Wilks supports students throughout the internship process, from the application phase to networking post-internship. As she helps them navigate the college-to-career transition, she provides resume and cover letter feedback and shares networking and interviewing insight. In addition, Wilks assists internship supervisors and employers with the for-credit internship process, wherein a student can apply academic theories and skills to real-world opportunities while equipping employers with passionate and knowledgeable workers who may serve as skilled potential employees in the future.

"Internships help students in so many ways, from adding marketable skills to their resumes to better understanding their chosen field and even exploring unique career paths,” Wilks said. “My job is to help students identify and pursue these opportunities enthusiastically and confidently. I offer a bridge between students and employers with the goal of making the transition to the workplace a great learning experience."

Wilks’ extensive career in strategic communication and public relations will serve her well in her new role. She previously served as vice president of administration and communication at Louisiana State Medical Society and has a range of experience in strategic planning, special events, website and social media management, volunteer recruitment and fundraising. The Manship School alumna earned her accreditation in public relations (APR) in 2009 and was honored with the First Circle Award from the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana in 2012 and the Senior Practitioner Award from the Southern Public Relations Federation in 2013.

Since joining the Manship School’s faculty in 2015, Wilks has taught a variety of public relations courses and served as the faculty adviser to the Public Relations Student Society of America’s (PRSSA) LSU Chapter. In 2018, the LSU PRSSA Bateman team took home first place in the country’s premier public relations competition, the Bateman Case Study Competition.

Wilks’ appointment follows the retirement of Mary Ann Sternberg, who served as internship coordinator from 1995-2020.

Read more about Wilks, and learn about the Manship School’s internship process.

For more information, contact acharbonnet1@lsu.edu.  

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LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: Master of Mass Communication, Ph.D. in Media and Public Affairs, Certificate of Strategic Communication and a dual MMC/Law degree. Its public relations students were recently ranked the #1 team in the nation, and its digital advertising and student media teams frequently earn national recognition.