APR Testimonial: Keyonna Summers
Posted by admincarolyn on Feb. 5, 2026 / APR, Blog / Subscribe 0
Q: What motivated you to pursue your Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) at this stage of your career?
The APR credential had been on my radar since I joined UNLV's Division of Integrated Marketing and Branding under the leadership of Vince Alberta, APR. Through his encouragement, I attended a PRSA LVVC-led APR info session early on in my career and began contemplating which aspect of my work would make for a good panel presentation project to analyze. Nearly a decade into my career as a PR practitioner, my years of accumulated knowledge and skills were put to the test amid a campus shooting in December 2023 — during which I served as the Media Relations Team Lead for the university’s central communications team. From assigning tasks and strategizing with communications colleagues to drawing on instinct gleaned from past PR experiences to guide decisions on communication strategies and tactics, I feel that the crisis really showcased my growth over the years and proved that I was ready to take this next step to obtain my APR. Studying for the credential provided the perfect opportunity to dive into the history and rationale behind many of the communications concepts that my team and I executed over the course of our yearlong crisis communications campaign.
Q: Can you walk us through your APR journey – from initial decision to study completion? What was the APR: Ready to Roll process like?
The PRSA Las Vegas Valley Chapter's "Ready to Roll" process was integral to my success on this journey. The study tips, real-world concept examples, and text recommendations I received from fellow members were invaluable, and helped me to really zero in on the key points as I later studied the material on my own. What's more, it provided an organic networking opportunity with my PRSA peers, and their encouragement and availability to answer questions throughout Ready to Roll — and beyond — motivated me to stay the course.
Q: How did you balance the APR study process with the demands of your current role? What advice do you have for other members on how to prioritize professional development?
Higher ed institutions — including UNLV — are facing rapid change and confusion as they simultaneously battle federal and state funding woes, a national conversation about whether education matters, and other impacts fueled by political uncertainty. The constant onslaught of activity made finding time to study for my APR difficult. However, the Ready to Roll boot camp provided excellent pacing early on. And the follow-up check-ins from fellow PRSA members encouraged me to prioritize penciling in study time during the natural ebbs in the university calendar. On my PRSA mentors' advice, I set a goal test date window in mind. And though I ended up moving it back a bit, having a deadline forced me to buckle down and push through.
Q: How do you plan to continue to apply your Accreditation in your career moving forward?
This accreditation makes me feel more confident as a PR practitioner. The study process reinforced concepts that I've already long used throughout my career, and it also taught me new ones that I plan to incorporate to fine-tune my day-to-day workflow.
Q: How do you practice PRSA Las Vegas' mission and core values in your day to day practice?
As UNLV's Media Relations Manager and a member of the university's strategic/issues management team, a core tenet of my job duties involves providing objective counsel to university administrators, professors, and faculty/staff surrounding their interactions with both internal and external publics. Before this role, I was a longtime newspaper journalist who strived to document history and act as the eyes and ears for community members who wish to stay informed about the world around them. I continue that advocacy to this day — encouraging the transparent free flow of ideas and information between the university and its neighbors. Through the relationships I build with media, I help connect them with university professors who represent a broad range of viewpoints.
0 Comments