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Grayson Franco is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A in Media and Journalism with a focus on Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Digital Literacy, Composition, and Rhetoric. Throughout her college career, spanning internships with NYC firms, non-profits, freelance graphic design, and work with a fashion magazine, she has supported businesses during times of growth and transition, raising media presence exponentially for each company on Instagram and Linkedin.
Grayson has elevated brand awareness for a startup nonprofit dedicated to rigorously recruiting, training, and placing minority undergraduate students into influential careers to catalyze generational change. Her role as the sole marketing and PR resource was extended at the request of the Founder. She created social media and email marketing campaigns (including copywriting and design) that grew ground-up followings, increased event attendance, and contributed to funding growth that supports cohort expansion. The nonprofit has successfully placed 100% of its students into corporate internships. Additionally, she built marketing tools embraced as best practices, including the first social media content calendar, a style guide, and a creative brief. Through hands-on classroom assignments and volunteer roles, she pitched, crafted, and executed strategies for a fashion and lifestyle magazine, retail giant Walmart, and iconic fashion designer Ferragamo.
During her Summer 2023 PR internship in NYC with ICR Strategic Communications, Grayson was actively involved in crafting compelling media pitches that generated significant media coverage for the firm’s clients. Her proficiency in creating media lists allowed her to connect with the right journalists and outlets to amplify the clients’ stories. She also demonstrated her ability to write impactful news releases that effectively communicated key messages and garnered attention from the target audience. Moreover, she was entrusted with developing engaging slide decks and assisting clients in delivering impactful presentations at various events and industry conferences. Her research acumen played a pivotal role in providing insightful and data-driven strategies to enhance the clients’ media presence and brand reputation. Throughout the internship, her dedication, work ethic, and adaptability stood out, leading to consistent success and receiving positive feedback from colleagues.
Grayson is passionate about blending the power of the written word with audio, visual, and media design through class projects, paid internships, and volunteer roles supporting retail giants, fashion brands, magazines, and startups. She has been praised for efficiency, responsiveness, collaboration, and tactful communication. She is an active member of Alpha Phi, which allows her to be a part of many fundraising drives and marketing campaigns for the Kappa Alpha Chapter. She hopes to continue her work in Public Relations and Applied Communication after graduation in May 2024.