EMILY D WILLIARD

I approach each challenge with the same enthusiasm, desire to learn, and positive attitude you would expect to find in any star of the industry. It is this, combined with my strong skill set and experience, that make me a valuable addition to any company. I’ve always had a way with people. In fact, it’s been said that I have never met a stranger. In high school I did an internship at a local nontraditional high school specializing in transition services for students with physical and mental disabilities. I loved it! I thought I’d found my calling in Special Education. I started down the path of Special Education once I got to college but soon realized that with my natural talents and gifts, I could make an even bigger impact for a charity in the area of fundraising. Looking to combine my talents with my passion, I changed my major and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations with a minor in Nonprofit Management. Helping people help people is how I desire to “waste wisely my days.”

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In college I had opportunities with three different internships for nonprofits. These internships afforded me the opportunity to put theory into practice. I learned several new skills, honed existing skills, and gained first-hand experience all while building a varied professional network. Twice I interned with Appalachian State University’s Athletic Department and once at the Hospitality House of Boone – a regional nonprofit transitional living facility and crisis assistance resource center providing a safe, nurturing, healthy environment in which individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty-related crises are equipped to become self-sufficient and productive. In addition to the internships, I also kept a paying job, which allowed me to continue strengthening my customer service skills.

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After graduating from Appalachian State University, I was hired as a Recruit for the Winston-Salem Police Department and received my Basic Law Enforcement Training state certificate. While serving my community is a top priority for me, after 7 months in the program I realized that my strengths and passion could be better put to use in other ways so I began pursuing a career in nonprofits.

I have traveled extensively, including a semester abroad the Fall of my senior year. That particular experience gave me the opportunity to make great connections in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and exposed me to new PR ideas that they use in Northern Ireland. Traveling on the Continent during that semester taught me a lot about so many different cultures and not only opened my eyes culturally but also taught me so much about different PR techniques. I’m excited to combine these techniques with those I’ve learned in the States and make a real difference.