Darren E. Smith, Jr.

4068 Noah Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802

(225) 450-0920• dre.darren96@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA
Expected Bachelor of Arts, May 2019
Mass Communications Public Relations
GPA: 3.17
I am a capable, creative, person with a dynamic outlook on life and a strong desire to succeed in Public Relations.

SKILLS
Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, OneNote)
Constant Contact
Prezi

EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE
Student Government Association Director of Public Relations, Southern University, August 2018
• Oversee all social media content for the organization’s events, and community outreach.
• Managing the creative identity for the annual Homecoming Week and Spring Fest (theme, signage, posters, and daily
events).
• Event planning and coordination (fashion show, concert, pep rally, coronation).
• Draft Speeches, event recaps, semester reports.
• Assisted with event planning, including associated travel and logistical arrangements
• Assisted advisor with the University’s 100+ student organizations including SGA, Greek-lettered organizations, and the
National Pan-Hellenic Council
• Assisted with managing programming and events for campus engagement and student development through
involvement in student organizations, communication and leadership programs, and campus-wide events

Junior Class President, Southern University, August 2017-May 2018

• Leading class cabinet meetings and organized student activities and events throughout the school year and the annual
Junior/Senior Week
• Hosted the 2nd Annual Black and White Cocktail party in which ticket sales were donated to the Baton Rouge Sickle
Cell Anemia Foundation.
• Inaugurated a health and wellness campus wide Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign: SU Goes PINK.
• Inaugurated a male empowerment series: Stayin’ Woke: State of the Southern Man
• Inaugurated a career readiness forum series: There’s Power in My Name

Epsilon Rho Chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon, Southern University, May 2017- May 2018
Vice President of Public Relations
• Managed communication among 60+ active on campus members
• Prepare monthly communications newsletters.
• Conducted a chapter rebrand to increase visibility on campus bolstering a record-breaking new initiate class of 50
members.
• Managed social media pages
• Created fun, creative fundraising campaigns for national convention
WORK EXPERIENCE
Southern University Alumni Federation, Baton Rouge, LA February 2019-Present
Graphic Design/Marketing and Events Intern
• Assist the Director of Alumni Affairs in managing the office’s communication with federation members.
• Assist in the organization’s rebranding campaign
• Manage internal and external communications for the agency, manage giving campaign.
• Complete graphic design requests for the agency.
• Press Releases, Event Recaps, Newsletters
• Assist in offsite/onsite event planning/coordination

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, Baton Rouge, LA August 2018-Present

Graphic Design/Communications Intern
• Assist the Communications Director in managing the office’s communication with stakeholders, legislators.
• Create the visual identity of statewide campaigns encouraging students to apply for college.
• Assist in the organization’s rebranding campaign
• Assist the Communications Director in managing internal and external communications for the agency.
• Complete graphic design requests for all departments of the agency.
• Press Releases, Event Recaps, Newsletters
• Assist in offsite/onsite event planning/coordination.

Louisiana Board of Regents, Baton Rouge, LA, May 2017-August 2018

Public Affairs Intern
• Assist the Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs and Communications Director with day-to-day operations of the
Public Affairs Department.
• Writing Press Releases, designing look book samples, planning creative campaigns, managing social media, editing
website, and touring higher ed. institutions with the Commissioner of Higher Education.
• Perform administrative duties including managing calendars, managing PR equipment, mailing packages, booking
team meetings and other duties.
• Maintain and update team calendar of initiatives including speaking engagements
• Manage media coverage tracking, monitoring and measurement, daily clippings and weekly recaps.
• Compose commissioner briefing documents.
• Compile and organize weekly team agendas; track action items and circulate minutes.
• Organize and maintain folders for team meetings to ensure team materials are updated and current.

Essence Music Festival, New Orleans, LA, July 2017 & 2018
Talent Movement
• Responsibilities included working with talent and briefing them of their schedules throughout the weekend. Greeting
talent at check in, escorting to and from holding, running talent through different on-stage and off-stage activations.

Account Manager
• Support Directors ensuring all items are in place at sponsor experience, while being specifically responsible for
transporting premiums and ensuring they are at each activation and ensuring proper consumer counts are obtained for
each sponsor activation.

Southern University Office of Student Life, Baton Rouge, LA, August 2017-May 2018
Miss Southern University Director of Public Relations
• Booking and scheduling appearances, speaking engagements.
• Coordinator of all public initiatives and campus/community events.
 • Designed/Managed the creative social media campaign for EBONY Magazine Top 10 HBCU Queens through online
voting.
• Personal styling for appearances.
• Manage spokesperson materials including talking points and executive headshots.

REFERENCES
Zack Johnson
Director of Freshman Academy, Southern University and A&M College
601-551-3525

Cara Guilbeau
Dean of Students, Kentucky State University
225-405-8564

Jovan Thomas
Academic Advisor, Southern University and A&M College
985-713-6575