Dr. Mike Mackert's account planning class has always been a thought-provoking elective and this semester is no different. The class helps teach students how to use thoughtful research and insights to guide advertising campaigns.

Last week six teams competed in the first semester project called "Street Crossing". The client, University Health Services, gave the class two topics to work on, condom promotion and prescription stimulant abuse.

"Advertisers have to be more agile than ever -- digital technology moves much faster than traditional print and TV, and users are catching on at a very high rate. The faster we can adapt and track behavior on new devices/platforms/sites, the better we can optimize our sites and the better we can serve our customers." -Laura Tulli, AdGrad '09 and Data Analyst at Urban Outfitters

What degree did you receive from UT Austin, and when did you graduate?

(Photo: Shauna D. Mora)
Pictured in the photo from left to right: Executive Vice President and Provost Steven Leslie, Kellyn Wieland, Texas Exes President Machree Gibson, and Dean of The College of Communication Rod P. Hart.

How can a PR education prepare students to enter the communications field? According to Professor Terry Hemeyer, Senior Lecturer, a successful PR degree program encourages a special set of skills and provides opportunities for well-rounded, real-world experiences. He recently detailed his findings in the following article in PR Week, “PR Education: Today’s Challenge – Is It Relevant?”