Elissa Gonzalez has had a lifelong passion for community enrichment.

“I have known, for as long as I can remember, that my purpose in life was to help people. Now that I have found the right educational and career paths to utilize my skills and interests, I plan to leave a tangible mark on the world through my passion for connecting, motivating and developing genuine relationships with my fellow students,” she said.

Gonzalez currently is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications with a public relations certificate. She is an active member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, helping to revitalize UM-Dearborn’s chapter and serving as the campus delegate to the PRSSA National Assembly in Seattle.  She has honed her PR and marketing skills as an intern for the City of Dearborn Parks and Recreation Department, where she managed the department’s social media accounts and created promotional materials.

Outside of PR, Gonzalez remains active on campus through her involvement in the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success, National Honor Society, Toastmasters, Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society and the SOAR program. And off campus, she is a volunteer at her children's school and has completed two years of service in Americorps with over 200 hours of community service projects, including two weeks to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

“Over the past three years, I have watched Elissa develop as a student leader and campus contributor as she pursues her passion for effective messaging around issues of social and environmental justice,” said SOAR Director Ellen Judge-Gonzalez.

After graduating, Gonzalez has her eye on using PR to make a positive impact.

“My dream career and long-term goals are to work in a public relations firm, utilizing my passion for creativity, writing and networking to advocate for new and radical campaigns that raise consciousness around various important issues of our time,” she said.