PR Next 2026 Brings Regional Chapters Together, Building Opportunity at CSUF

This year, Cal State Fullerton brought a network of industry opportunities directly to campus by hosting the 2026 PRSSA Western District Conference, PR Next: Ethics, AI, and the Future of Communication, from March 6–8. The three-day event gave students access to agency tours, leadership training and panels with professionals across the public relations field. The conference drew a wide network of emerging and established professionals who felt pulled toward the breadth of opportunities CSUF’s Public Relations Society of America brought together on its own campus. With access to agency tours, panels and workshops all in one place, the event created a space where chapters from across the region could step beyond their own programs and into a shared professional community.

Ayaz Rahman, a fourth year advertising major with a minor in public relations and Social Media Coordinator of Cal State Dominguez Hills PRSSA shared his experience attending PR Next 2026. Rahman felt drawn to CSUF because the conference offered a chance to step beyond his own campus and into a wider network of students exploring the same field. That sense of openness carried into his tour of Westbound Communications, where the environment matched the kind of support he hoped to find in the industry.

“There were around 20 to 25 of us, and Carrie Gilbreth, who is the owner of Westbound Communications, was very lovely. The whole vibe of the office was very welcoming, homey and they seemed like they were genuine people,” Rahman said. “They’re really there for you, and they really want to help you out with your experiences. And they really want to help you find the job and that niche for you.”

These growing networks gave communications students a chance to learn about the industry in a more direct and practical way than a textbook can offer, helping them to connect with professionals and build early relationships before entering the field. The conference also featured a PRSSA Leadership Summit led by PRSSA International President Alicia Caracciolo focusing on strategic communications and enhancing members’ learning experiences. The 2026 PRSSA Western District Conference also featured a range of panels with representatives from Warner Bros., the Path Project, RPA, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and more. Khalid John Fraihat, a fourth year management information systems major at CSUF, shared why he attended the panels.

“One of the biggest reasons I came was because they were the industries I work in, and what my major is,” Fraihat said. “I am trying to get a glimpse of other professionals in different industries than my major, we had speakers from nonprofits, corporate retail and we’re having a clothing company.”

Alongside the panels, the conference also offered workshops led by industry professionals, including a session from Alzheimer’s Orange County presented by Scott Pansky. Experiences like these made the 2026 PRSSA Western District Conference a valuable learning opportunity, giving students space to apply their skills, receive feedback and engage with professionals across the field. In public relations, specialists and practitioners collaborate with people from a wide range of backgrounds and communication styles. Events like this bring those opportunities directly to students, helping them build confidence, expand their networks and see the kinds of paths they can pursue beyond the classroom. Ken Hagihara, a lecturer in the Department of Communications, serves as PRSSA’s faculty advisor.

Lili Soto and Gregory Ferraro contributed to this article.