Updike Will Graduate in April 2023 With a BA in Communications: Public Relations
Julianne Updike, a BYU graduate who majored in communications, will be presenting at the Communications Convocation on April 28. Updike’s first look into advocating for those in underserved communities was through communications.
“I realized in my sophomore year I wanted to start working on helping others as soon as possible, so I made the switch to communications, specifically public relations,” said Updike. “PR helped me develop skills that I could apply right away to social impact and causes that I want to work on.”
Updike had many mentors during her journey at BYU. Her mom is a strong example of how to work through obstacles and how to prioritize what matters most in life. Professor Devin Knighton showed her Christ-like charity and faith in all of his actions. Although Updike has never met Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Maya Angelou, she looks up to them as communicators. “These women became such great leaders because they used their knowledge to develop wisdom,” said Updike. “They spent their time focused on social issues and engaged the public through their writing and speaking to build stronger communities.”
A way Updike finds inspiration is through people. “People overcoming hard circumstances, people sharing kind moments with each other, people working to create change together; that's the inspiring stuff swirling around my head nearly all the time.”
The Policy Project, a non-profit organization that addresses needs of different social groups, has been a way that Updike has helped her community. “At least once a week, I leave a call or meeting and just weep because I am so inspired by all the people who are working hard to help communities that may be neglected by the government or businesses or society at large,” said Updike.
Updike also faced challenges during her time at BYU, including a loss of a family member. Updike was able to complete the semester in spite of this challenge. “I'm incredibly proud of the grades I earned that semester, and I think my success that semester is credited to my vulnerability with my professors, allowing myself to be overwhelmed, and working with my therapist; who is my favorite miracle from God.”
Two projects left a big impact on Updike; her PR capstone project and a project for her Corporate Social Impact class. Updike worked on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints YouTube channel and traveled to New York and D.C. to collect data for her capstone. For her class project, she had to pick a social issue and a business that cares about the issue to put together a full plan and campaign for the company. Updike worked with the grocery store company, Harmon's, to come up with a business practice that prevents food waste. “I did all the research, ideation, plans and presentation,” she said. “It felt so good to build a full cost sharing reduction initiative for a class that I could deliver to an organization.”
As Updike looks to a future with her communications degree, her goal is to help others. “I want my professional career to be focused on doing social good. To me, this looks like accepting positions that allow me to bear burdens with vulnerable people and mitigate some of that weight…I aspire to be a person that leaves people feeling more hopeful and confident after every interaction.”