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This spring, Hannah Brown set out to take on the biggest leadership role of her young college career — planning and executing Communication Day at ���Ĺ��� University-Bloomsburg.

And she delivered.

The junior communication studies major served as chairwoman of the annual professional development conference hosted by Bloomsburg’s National Communication Association Student Club (). Brown led nearly every aspect of Communication Day, turning months of preparation into a full-scale, student-driven conference that brought together presenters and attendees from across campus.

“I was excited to take on a larger leadership role as chairwoman and have the opportunity to shape the day and make an impact,” Brown said. “I felt inspired by the chance to be a part of something important that connects students and faculty together.”

Communication Day has been a staple within the communication studies department for more than a decade. According to Paula Hopeck, associate professor of communication studies and advisor to NCASC, the event has grown and adapted over time to reflect student interests and campus needs.

“Communication Day has been going on for about 14 years and has gone through several iterations based on feedback from faculty and students,” she said. “Each year looks a little different depending on what students want to see and what they’re passionate about.”

This year’s theme, “Communication Unleashed,” was created by Brown to make the event as inclusive and engaging as possible.

“I wanted to open the door for as many topics and perspectives as possible,” Brown said. “Communication touches everything, so it was important to reflect that in the event.”

Planning began months in advance, even before the semester officially started.

“Preparing for the event started in January during winter break,” she explained. “I reached out to students and faculty who had participated in the past and expanded that list through connections we’ve built in NCASC.”

From there, Brown took responsibility for organizing every moving part of the event. She managed outreach, tracked responses, created the schedule, coordinated volunteers, and handled ongoing communication with presenters.

“I kept a detailed spreadsheet with presenter information like titles, descriptions, timing, and availability,” she said. “It helped me stay organized and make sure everything ran smoothly.”

She also worked closely with NCASC members, delegating roles and making sure everyone had a clear responsibility leading up to and during the event.

“It was important to me that everyone felt involved and had a role,” Brown said. “Successful event planning really comes down to teamwork and communication.”

Even with careful planning, challenges were inevitable, especially when balancing schedules and responding to last-minute requests.

“The biggest challenge was trying to fit presenters into the schedule who responded later,” she said. “At that point, the schedule was already full, so I had to make tough decisions while still communicating clearly and professionally.”

There were also logistical hurdles on the day of the event, from coordinating panels to handling technical issues, all of which required quick thinking and adaptability.

“You have to be ready to think on your feet when something doesn’t go as planned,” Brown added.

Despite those challenges, the end result made the experience incredibly rewarding.

“The entire day was probably the most rewarding academic experience I’ve had,” she said. “Seeing the turnout and engagement from students and faculty was so validating. It meant a lot to see people appreciate something I worked so hard on.”

Hopeck emphasized that this kind of hands-on leadership experience is exactly what Communication Day is designed to provide.

“This event is entirely student-run, which makes it really special,” she said. “Students are responsible for everything — from initial outreach and promotion to logistics and execution. It gives them real-world experience that you can’t always replicate in a classroom.”

The event also serves as a platform for both students and faculty to share their passions, research, and experiences in a more open and engaging setting.

“It’s a space where faculty can talk about what they’re passionate about and where students can share their own experiences, like study abroad or class projects,” Dr. Hopeck said. “It helps everyone see the wide range of what communication can be.”

For Brown, that broader impact was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

“This event gave students and faculty the chance to showcase their passions and talents,” Brown said. “It highlighted how communication plays a role in so many different areas, academically, professionally, and personally.”

Her experience as vice president of NCASC played a major role in preparing her for the responsibility.

“My role has helped me develop professional skills like communicating with faculty, organizing information, meeting deadlines, and leading a team,” Brown said. “All of those skills came into play while planning Communication Day.”

She also credits her communication studies major, along with her minors in sports management and health communication, for helping her build the confidence and knowledge needed to lead.

“My courses have taught me so much about leadership, collaboration, networking, and professional communication,” Brown said. “Being able to apply those skills to something real like this was incredibly rewarding.”

Hopeck noted that events like Communication Day also play an important role in helping students build confidence and find their voice.

“It gives students an opportunity to present their work and realize their ideas matter,” she said. “It also helps them understand how communication applies across different careers and disciplines.”

Looking ahead, there is excitement about continuing to grow the event and build on its long-standing tradition.

“I hope students continue to look forward to Communication Day and see it as a chance to engage with topics they care about,” Hopeck said.

For Brown, the experience reinforced the importance of getting involved and stepping into leadership roles during college.

“I would tell students to get involved as much as possible and take advantage of opportunities like this,” she said. “You learn so much by stepping outside your comfort zone and taking on new challenges.”