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ava portney
Experience
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Media Relations Intern | RooneyPartners
May 2025 - August 2025 | New York City, NY
• Created, updated, and maintained over 10 coverage reports, 4 media lists, 4 coverage trackers, and 5 media briefing booklets
• Collaborated with digital team for evergreen social media assets, audio clipping, social media advertisement strategy, and copywriting
• Used tools like Meltwater, SparkToro, and Google News for media monitoring and digital analytics insights
• Conducted research on journalists and media outlets; pitch relevant stories for clients
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Public Relations Leadership Intern | Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public & Community Service
August 2023 - Present | Syracuse, NY
• Lead social media communication on Instagram and LinkedIn to connect with students, faculty, and community partners
• Grew Instagram followers 70% in one year; creatively direct post series; track metrics on Microsoft Excel
• Manage website through WordPress; update/add information; write and post articles; redesigned website in summer of 2024
• Led the planning of 30th Anniversary Celebration in spring of 2025; plan company events; build media lists; contact outreach; generate event and media ideas
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President | Syracuse University Volunteer Organization
August 2023 - Present | Syracuse, NY
• Oversee 800+ member organization
• Lead the planning for on-campus bed building volunteer event in collaboration with nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace
• Successfully fundraise over $25,000 in under 3 months to build 100 beds
• Reach out to and collaborate with student organizations, local nonprofits, and university programs for event programming and fundraising efforts
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Public Relations Intern | Pat Hogan for Syracuse Mayor
October 2024 - May 2025 | Syracuse, NY
• Led digital campaign and PR strategy for Pat Hogan’s 2025 Syracuse Mayoral Campaign
• Planned and built his entire website linked here; utilized SEO; considered user experience in design
•Created and managed content for LinkedIn; managed campaign email; fundraised through ActBlue
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Corporate Affairs Intern, DEI Communications |
Bristol Myers Squibb
June 2023-August 2023 | Lawrenceville, NJ
• Worked under DEI and ESG experts with strategy development; learned company DEI commitment strategy
• Managed internal communication: email outreach, weekly newsletters, meeting minutes, event planning
• Assisted external communication: ESG annual report writing, meetings with external advertising agencies, storytell science writing
Contact
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Education
Syracuse University - May 2026
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
B.S.: Magazine, News and Digital Journalism
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College of Visual and Performing Arts
Minor: Visual Culture
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Skills
Writing Styles:
MLA, APA, AP
Writing Types:
Print and Broadcast, Reporting, Magazine, Data Analysis
Adobe Creative Cloud
Microsoft Office
Socials:
LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok
Media Monitoring:
Meltwater, SparkToro, Google News
Additional:
Graphic Design, Website Building, Web Coding, SEO, Fundraising
Languages:
English (Fluent), Korean (Intermediate), Spanish (Intermediate)
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Honors
1870 Scholar, 2022
Branham Scholar, 2022
Invest in SUccess Scholar, 2022
Dean’s List, Fall 2022- Fall 2025
International Baccalaureate Diploma Recipient, 2022
A.C. Flora First Fifty Years Foundation Scholar, 2022