By Stacey Tadlock

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eleven Middle Tennessee State University students recently spent the day at the Nashville-based strategic communications firm Jarrard Inc. for a full-immersion experience in crisis communication thanks to Barnstorm, an event founded and hosted by MTSU alumna Monica Haun.

“This event helps students see how strategic communication connects to industries like health care and prepares them for the pace and complexity of real-world work,” Haun said of the Oct. 10 event.  

School of Journalism and Strategic Media associate professor Tricia Farwell accompanied the students as they participated in the event at Jarrard’s Nashville office. They joined employees and leadership for a day of fast-paced learning focused on real-world communication challenges in the health care industry.

The day featured sessions with Jarrard’s founding partners, President Anne Hancock Toomey and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Phillips, along with team-based crisis scenarios involving issues such as data breaches, payroll concerns and disgruntled patients speaking to the media.

Each student team developed and presented strategic communication responses to the agency staff, receiving detailed feedback on their work from Jarrard professionals.

The event concluded with a keynote address from the agency’s vice president, Perri duGard Owens, who highlighted Jarrard’s commitment to helping the next generation of PR communicators build confidence and gain experience in a professional setting.

Haun, senior managing advisor at Jarrard and MTSU public relations alumna, created Barnstorm to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice.

“Barnstorm was born out of a series of conversations with key professors in MTSU’s public relations, advertising, and journalism programs. Our team at Jarrard wanted to find meaningful ways to give back to the university by creating real-world learning experiences,” Haun explained.

She continued, “There was a real need for opportunities that could help students understand what agency life is truly like and how to specialize within specific industries. Between our former CEO, who is also an MTSU alum, and me, we knew we wanted to build something special and unique for MTSU students. That’s where the idea for Barnstorm came to life, an immersive, industry-specific event that would bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world.”

Students said the day was both challenging and eye-opening. Advertising and public relations student Jordan Henley said the unpredictability of the crisis scenarios pushed the group to apply skills from multiple disciplines.

“We had no idea what was going to be said about our client on the news,” Henley said. “It challenged me to use not just my PR knowledge, but also what I’ve learned in journalism and political science to come to a conclusion that would be best for our client’s image.”

Henley added that connecting with Haun made the experience even more inspiring.

“To see someone who not only shared my major but also my minor was extremely motivating,” Henley said. “It is nice to know what life after college can look like as well as know that there is success in it.”

Journalism student Elizabeth Burke said the experience reshaped how she viewed the professional world.

“My biggest takeaway from Barnstorm was that being in the corporate world doesn’t have to be scary — it can actually be fun,” Burke said. “Working in a fast-paced, high-stress situation was challenging but exciting. Jarrard made us feel so welcome, and I’d definitely recommend Barnstorm to future students.”

Haun hopes events like Barnstorm will continue to open doors for MTSU students interested in agency and strategic communication work.

“MTSU played such a huge role in shaping who I am today,” she said. “Barnstorm represents my two worlds colliding — my professional life and my roots at MTSU. It’s an honor to come back and create something that directly benefits the next generation of communicators.”

Haun also offered some advice to students.

“Say yes to every opportunity, even if it doesn’t make perfect sense at the time. Every experience, no matter how small, teaches you something valuable. I started out doing things like taking notes or drafting first versions that were completely rewritten later, but those early tasks were foundational,” she said.

“Over time, I realized that those experiences were helping me understand strategy, client relationships, and the ‘why’ behind big decisions. Growth happens in those small, sometimes repetitive moments. Be curious, stay open and soak up every learning opportunity you can.”

The 11 MTSU students who participated in the one-day event include:

• Kristin Blake, a journalism major from Memphis.
• Elizabeth Burke, a journalism major from Nashville.
• Sekinat Ekunsumi, an advertising/public relations major from Antioch.
• Tiffany Haynes, a journalism major from Cookeville.
• Clara Hasenwinkel, an advertising/public relations major from Nolensville.
• Jordan Henley, a journalism major from Murfreesboro.
• Hannah Litaker, a journalism major from Petersburg.
• Allyson Pricer, an advertising/public relations major from Hixson.
• Raiane Costa Rodrigues, an advertising/public relations major from Embu das Artes.
• John Wrye, an advertising/public relations major from Franklin.
• Kaleigh Young, a media and entertainment major from Hermitage.

—       Stacey Tadlock (Stacey.Tadlock@mtsu.edu)