U.F. Ambassadors: Graduating journalism senior Meredith Cochie and Katie Reid, JM 2004. (Photo by Karina Fernandez)
tough act to follow
Diplomatic trifecta
When UF’s first Irish exchange students recently arrived at the College for the spring semester, Journalism and Communications Ambassadors (JCA) President Meredith Cochie helped them adjust.
Her penchant for going out of her way to help is characteristic of the JCA’s mission and the presidents who preceded her: Katie Reid, JM 2004, and Kari Pfeiffer, PR 2005.
“Katie is the foundation of the Ambassadors,” said Cochie, a journalism major who’s graduating May 6 and is entering the College’s master’s program. “She had the big task of making it work. Kari had the big task of growing that foundation. If I hadn’t known those two women, there’s no way I’d be successful as JCA president.”
Reid, who writes and edits for the Editor Group in Sydney, Australia (clients include Apple and Fujitsu), founded the JCA in 2003. She couldn’t enroll in the chronically full Reporting class three semesters in a row and acted on her frustration by mobilizing students from all four departments who wanted to address the College’s overcrowding plight.
She approached Charles J. Harris, director of the Knight Division for Scholarships, Career Services and Multi-cultural Affairs, about forming a student group to improve communication between students and faculty. He guided her through the organization and registration process, served as faculty advisor and counseled all three presidents.
In the JCA’s first year, Reid laid the groundwork for the Pathfinder mentoring program, through which older students and alumni offer career, course selection and resume advice to younger Gators. She also collaborated with Pfeiffer on the Survivor Workshop, which previews each major for direction-deficient newcomers.
To become JCA members, applicants undergo an interview and a resume check (rejected applicants of 2003 include Cochie). They elect their presidents for one-year terms. Journalism senior Andy Lewis will follow Cochie as 2006-07 JCA president.
In fall 2004, Reid outlined the organization’s goals with incoming president Pfeiffer at briefing sessions attended by Harris and the JCA’s executive board, and took on a consultative role.
“As soon as Kari and her team were at the helm,” Reid said, “the JCA began evolving into something much better than I could have conceived on my own.”
Kari Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer, who works for communications company Avaya, used her public relations skills to expand the group’s presence on campus and in the community, Harris said. She strengthened the JCA’s ties with faculty members and students and within the organization itself. She launched the Survivor Workshop. And she showcased the group’s high school mentoring program at the National Scholastic Press Association conference in Atlanta and at the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s conference in Tampa.
With a $130 project budget, the JCA’s high school mentoring program recently won a first-prize Innovative Outreach award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
“The high school program really took off last year and that was through [Pfeiffer’s] leadership,” said Carly Litzenberger, a telecommunication junior and second-year JCA member.
Steven Lindgren, Buchholz High School’s publication advisor, used JCA’s mentoring program frequently over the past couple of years. When a JCA group spoke in one of his journalism classes earlier this year, he noted how receptive his students were.
In 2005, Pfeiffer handed over the presidency to Cochie, a former Journalism and Communications College Council president who served as JCA faculty liaison chair. Since taking the reigns, Cochie has helped bring two more high schools into the mentoring program for a total of five. Her duties vary from arranging Pathfinder socials to giving campus tours to proctoring exams. Her student-government experience distinguishes her outlook and approach, Harris said.
Harris has done little handholding, he said. “They were all successful students, and they all had that confidence that comes with being a leader.”
JCA has 47 members: 16 public relations, 13 journalism, 12 telecommunication and six advertising students. As the group expanded its sphere of influence, Cochie looked to Reid’s and Pfeiffer’s groundwork for inspiration. Both had a knack for delegating responsibilities and being open to change and growth, she said.
The three JCA leaders feel a continuing sense of commitment, Cochie said. They keep in touch by e-mail to discuss JCA and College issues. “We all had the same priorities, which were making a difference and having fun while doing it.”
