SpeakerPost Spotlight: Michelle Truelson

"Bringing in communication professionals to guest lecture in my classroom is an excellent way to bring the material home and to further inspire students and to educate them on the various opportunities in our industry."

You are obviously not a career academic! What motivates you to give back to the academic community?

I have chosen to dedicate this time of my career to teaching because I always wished I had professors who worked in the industry who could offer true perspectives and insights into the field I was interested in. I also believe that everyone should give back and teach in some capacity in their lifetime.

What are your thoughts on the guest speaker method?

I think the guest speaker method is incredibly valuable! I bring in on average 5-6 guest lecturers per semester in my classes. It is a critical way for students to make connections between what they are learning and what is happening in the industry.

What advice would you give other professionals interested in sharing their knowledge or their career journeys?

There are few things as fulfilling as sharing your knowledge with others! Taking the time to speak to college students about what they can expect in their future careers, navigating a career and a job search, and overall just instilling them with real world advice and insight is not only rewarding, but incredibly important as we prepare future communications leaders and professionals!

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Michelle Truelson has more than two decades of experience in corporate communications, public affairs and political communications. She is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University teaching public relations and writing. Her experience includes developing strategy and conceiving and writing communications vehicles for a variety of clients in the government, nonprofit and corporate sectors. She worked as a senior communications leader for Genentech Inc., and has served in senior client roles at several prominent communications and political agencies throughout her career. Past clients include Levi Strauss & Co., Chevron, the Embassy of Sweden, San Francisco International Airport, Mercy Corps and Marriott International, to name a few. In addition to her corporate communications, teaching and writing work, Michelle has also published a number of articles on parenting and developed a children’s book.