Meet Stacey Murray

Meet Stacey Murray

by: Kristin Bussell

I chose to interview Stacey Murray, the Coordinator of Special Events and Projects for the University of Oklahoma’s Public Affairs Office. Stacey graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts from Gaylord College of Journalism. She was a Public Relations major and having completed classes recently, she and I actually discovered that we’ve had some of the same teachers. This was a fun talking point!

Stacey more or less began her Public Relations career as a volunteer for the Muscular Dystrophy Association while in school. As Stacey explained, this volunteering led to an internship opportunity which then led to a job. Working for the non-profit Muscular Dystrophy Association, or MDA, was her first job out of school. She worked for the MDA from May of 2006 until October of 2007, when she came to OU’s Public Affairs Office.

I asked her about the differences between her current position and her former job with the MDA and she essentially reiterated what other non-profit, public relations professionals have reported: You find yourself involved much more in every aspect of PR as opposed to just event planning, writing or designing. In a non-profit you do everything. For example, Stacey recounted her first summer working for the MDA and told me how she was made assistant summer camp director… just out of school, no less! (MDA Summer Camp photo at right)

Working for the OU Public Affairs Office, Stacey’s job is to help plan University events through coordination with other University offices’ event staffs. Frequently, however, their office plans events on its own. Some examples of events she participates in planning include donor dinners for the President’s Associates, all events that President Boren is involved in, groundbreakings, news conferences and the graduation commencement ceremonies. (She actually knew the speaker for this year’s May commencement ceremony already, as they’ve been planning for several weeks, but wouldn’t tell me! It’s meant to be a surprise.) Currently Stacey is working on the opening of OU’s Transportation Operations Center.

With her background of PR experience, which I think is very broad for less than three years, I asked Stacey what her advice would be for an aspiring PR professional. Stacey said organization was critical! She also explained the importance of people-skills.

“It’s essential to learn how to handle and listen to people,” Stacey said.

This seemed to be especially true when there is any type of crisis. Stacey said it’s really important to be honest. In other words, the people or clients affected by the crisis always appreciate an up-front explanation when things go wrong.

Also on the topic of dealing with crisis situations, Stacey told me what her boss, Catherine Bishop, always tells her, “I’d rather you make a decision and it be wrong than not make a decision at all.”

This says to me that in order to be a successful Public Relations professional, it’s necessary to be quick-thinking in addition to being organized. After this time spent interviewing Stacey I feel like I know more of what to expect in my first Public Relations position… handling something different every day!