HopCommNet: Wrapping Up the Fall Semester

As this semester closes, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the above quote from Michael Josephson. Whether you are wrapping up your first class or headed for graduation, you have come a long way this semester! Take some time over the winter break to relax and re-energize yourself, and return ready to continue enjoying your educational journey. This is our final newsletter issue for the semester, but we’ll be back in January with more useful resources and exciting events! 

First, though, be sure to submit your course feedback in Canvas! 

OPEN EXECUTIVE BOARD SPRING POSITIONS 
 

HopCommNet is recruiting members for our Spring 2026 executive board!  

We are looking for passionate graduate students who want to make an impact. You don't need prior student leadership experience; what matters most is your interest in contributing and your curiosity to learn. 

All our positions are designed to mirror real-world professional roles, giving you practical skills you can showcase on your resume and apply in your future career. 

Learn about HopCommNet’s Executive Board Positions.  

SAYING GOODBYE 

This month, we celebrate and bid farewell to HopCommNet’s vice president, Yann Chia, who is completing her MA in Communication this semester.  

What was your favorite experience in the program? 

Looking back, that is how supported I felt as an international student. Our professors didn't just teach theories; they understood how context shapes communication. Whenever they compared U.S. and Chinese media contexts, it helped me better bridge two worlds that often feel far apart. 

I also loved how our program provided us the flexibility to explore courses across different disciplines–being able to build on the communication foundation while learning other related knowledge. That mix really shaped my own experience. 

Do you have any advice for current students? 

Don't limit yourself to the syllabus. Take our program as a toolkit, not a checklist. Ask questions. Talk to professors and people from different backgrounds. Let your real interests guide your choices. 

Grad school moves fast, but you'll get the most out of it when you treat every project as a chance to build your perspective, not just another assignment to finish. 

How do you expect to use what you’ve learned at JHU to advance your career? 

I'll keep exploring branding and IMC in the US market, through the lens of culture, behavior, and storytelling, building work that connects people across contexts. 

DECEMBER EVENTS AROUND JHU 

Whether you’re in DC, Baltimore, or virtual, look at the packed schedule of activities for this month! Meet with the AAP advising team, join StoryLab to learn how to use storytelling to boost your career, visit holiday markets in DC or Baltimore, hear a fireside chat on thriving in the first year of grad school, or enjoy hot chocolate at a study hour on either campus. 

View upcoming JHU AAP events by logging into Hopkins Groups, clicking on upcoming events, and filtering the event tags for “AAP Students”.  

To get you started, here’s one we specifically recommend! StoryLab is hosting a hybrid event this Friday, December 5. Join them to learn practical strategies for using storytelling to strengthen your professional identity, communicate with confidence, and create meaningful connections in the workplace. 

JHU RESOURCES FOR WINTER BREAK 

Swank Digital Campus: JHU Streaming Library 

Did you know that while you’re a JHU student, you can watch blockbuster MOVIES for FREE at Swank? 

Kanopy: JHU Movies Library 

Are independent films more your thing? You can also watch indie films and documentaries for FREE at Kanopy! 

Learning Resources 

Prefer to spend your break engaging in some additional learning (without grades)? You have access to two great resources:  

• LinkedIn Learning certification courses, such as photoshop essentials training, as a JHU student 

• Coursera, offering courses from JHU professors and in which you can earn certificates for free 

BEYOND THE UNIVERSITY 

This is also a great time to catch up on industry news and get inspired by great leaders and communicators. Here are a few favorites to get you started. Perhaps you’re more in the mood for building in-person connections? Don’t worry, the PR Society of America has an event in the DC area for you, too! 

The Stanford Storytelling Project 

Find podcasts and resources to develop your storytelling skills from Standford. 

Brene Brown Podcasts 

Two authentic and engaging podcasts featuring a variety of guests discussing topics around leadership and collaboration. 

Listen to the Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead and Unlocking Us Podcasts. 

PR Week Podcasts 

Weekly roundup of happenings in the worlds of public relations and communications. PRWeek editorial director Steve Barrett and executive editor Frank Washkuch conduct in-depth interviews with notable guests and run down the week's top news stories. 

Listen to PRWeek’s podcasts. 

Breaking Through by Sally Susman 

In this inspiring book with the subtitle “Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World,” Susman shares lessons she’s learned over 30 years as a communications professional. She opens up about her early mistakes, the challenges she has faced, and the fascinating story of  

how she managed the massive communications challenge that came with Covid as head of corporate affairs at Pfizer. 

Read Breaking Through by Sally Susman.  

PRSA NCC Holiday Party & Hall of Fame Reception 

Celebrate, Connect & Be Inspired with the PR Society of America (PRSA) National Capital Chapter (NCC) on December 18, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia! Get to know the DC area PR community at a deeply discounted student rate of $25.  

The PRSA NCC Board of Directors will also be introduced, including incoming President Patricia Hernandez, Ph.D., Assistant Program Director of the MA Communication program at JHU and our HopCommNet faculty advisor! 

Register for the PRSA Arlington, VA December 18 Holiday Party.