Emily Stone
Emily Stone
B.A. Communication, Public Relations, 2019
MSU Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Public Relations Advisory Board
“I felt deeply connected to the campus on my initial visit, so the choice to attend Mississippi State University was an easy one. I was charmed by our beautiful campus and cozy small town. I knew I wanted a large-campus experience, but I needed smaller classrooms and hands-on learning to truly succeed,” said Emily Stone, a 2019 MSU graduate. “I was eager to get involved, intern, work and gain a ton of experience. MSU and the College of Arts and Sciences gave that to me, and I credit my career growth to how much was invested in me as a student.”
When asked what experiences at MSU had the biggest impact on her, Taylor noted two foundational events. “My sophomore year, I started working in the athletic department and fell in love with the business end of live events and entertainment. I started in 2017 as a communications intern, and I sometimes joke that they trusted the student workers almost too much. But I’m not complaining,” laughed Taylor. “I was leading media relations and external communications for the MSU women’s tennis program, and traveling to various SEC tournaments, championships, and events to represent MSU athletic communications. My junior year, Dr. Terri Hernandez introduced the idea of working with our department’s student-led media agency to provide communication students with client-facing experience. Dr. Hernandez trusted my enthusiasm and experience enough to be the student leader of PRISM in its first year, overseeing each of our teams and projects. My time with PRISM felt like lightning in a bottle,” said Taylor. “It was so exciting to share space with other creative and passionate students, working on behalf of clients that were already out in the world running businesses and programs. It felt truly impactful, and I felt fully confident graduating with a full portfolio of client work. Coupling this agency work with my athletics experience put me in the perfect position to succeed post-graduation.”
Several of Stone’s favorite memories at MSU are from baseball games. “I’ve worked in and visited many stadiums across the country, and nothing will ever feel like Dudy Noble. The smells, sounds, sights, and sunsets just don’t compare. It’s a quintessentially Mississippi State experience. I’ll always be grateful for the many friendships formed in the press box, suites, and the Left Field Lounge,” said Stone.
Stone currently lives in Detroit, Michigan, where she moved shortly after graduating from MSU to accept her first full-time job in alumni relations with the Wayne State School of Medicine. While she enjoyed her job, she felt a strong pull towards sports and entertainment. In 2021, she joined the Detroit Pistons as a membership service executive, which eventually led to a new opportunity within athletics at the University of Michigan where she led major donor and premium seating events and traveled across the country planning high-touch engagements for Michigan athletics. She recently joined the Detroit Lions as manager of suite services.
Although she has a busy schedule, Stone remains connected to MSU. She was appointed to the MSU Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Public Relations Advisory Board in Spring 2025. The advisory board meets once a year with MSU public relations faculty and students to discuss and collaborate about vision and strategy for the concentration. As a board member, Stone reviews a set of student online portfolios once per semester as part of an initiative to enhance student readiness.
“It’s been a fantastic experience professionally to learn about what others are doing in the industry, but also to stay connected to the curriculum and what the students are doing means a lot to me. It’s hard to get back for football or baseball games, but I’m hoping to get back this year or next,” said Stone.
When asked what advice she would give to today’s MSU students, she said, “Find your authentic self, then lead with it. There’s so much talent out in the world, and it can be easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Always remember that no one has your specific, unique blend of personality and skill. Use it! Your authenticity and creativity can set you apart, so don’t underestimate the power of you.”