Rose McKinney, APR, Fellow PRSA, was designated as a member of the President’s Circle of Engagement by Metropolitan State University. McKinney, an adjunct professor, was recognized for three courses she teaches: Principles of Public Relations (COMM 381), Advanced Public Relations (COMM 481) and a special-topics seminar on Brand Messaging (COMM 499). She has been honored with this distinction in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and again this year.

The Circle of Engagement at Metropolitan State University honors faculty members for leadership in connecting course work with the community. Focused on seven aspects: civic engagement, community-university partnership, community immersion, community-based learning, university- community service, service to community, and community connection, the award recognizes the link between both academic and student affairs, and the community.

“The President’s Circle of Engagement is a special distinction for those who show exemplary leadership in associating their course content with community partnerships, “said Devinder Malhotra, interim president of Metropolitan State University. “Rose is committed to incorporating real-world public relations issues into her courses and has created a curriculum that connects our students to the university and community around them.”

This year in COMM 381 Principles of Public Relations, students are creating public relations programs for Know the Truth, a substance abuse prevention program targeting young adults throughout Minnesota. Participants from Know the Truth (KTT) visited class in February 2015 to provide Metropolitan State University students with background information, answer questions and share a sample of the content and conversations that KTT utilizes. Students will present their programs as a final assignment in April 2015.

As part of COMM 481 Advanced Public Relations, students selected Minnesota-based businesses or non-profit organizations to track throughout the semester as they developed public relations recommendations. Studying the real-time activities of local organizations provides students with valuable insights that often guide their job-search and post-graduation plans.
In a special-topics seminar on Brand Messaging, students taking COMM 499 this term are working with Rock Effect to provide the client with a creative brief that will guide the non-profit's expansion. Rock Effect is launching a societal initiative that encourages people to recognize the relationships in their lives that have made a valuable impact.

“Students are better prepared to become successful professionals when they get hands-on opportunities that connect them to the community in which they live,” says McKinney. “Students benefit by learning from all types of business, nonprofit and organizational connections.”
McKinney, who has taught at Metropolitan State University since 2005, is the founder and CEO of Pineapple RM, Inc., a reputation management firm in the Twin Cities.