CHICAGO (March 5, 2019) – Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) agency Golin, just announced that four students pursuing degrees in integrated marketing communications have been named as prestigious Al Golin Fellows. Golin has partnered with Al Golin’s alma mater, Roosevelt University in Chicago, to create a new Al Golin Fellowship Program benefiting the future diverse pipeline of talent in the PR and marketing industries. Through the fellowship, each recipient will be poised to bring communications expertise and diversify perspectives to the industry.
Following Al’s death in 2017, Golin committed to build upon Al’s ‘modern legacy’ based on his timeless principles and values. With respect to Al’s “fix it before it breaks” philosophy, the agency has positioned itself as a progressive PR leader, in which diversity and inclusion are strategic priorities.
A 1950 graduate, Al chose to attend Roosevelt because of its rare inclusive culture at the time, which appealed to him as a young Jewish man seeking his place of belonging. He later served on the board of trustees at Roosevelt University for 16 years. During the last decade of his life, Al and his wife, June Golin, funded the Al Golin Scholarship in Communications at Roosevelt, which has benefited dozens of students from under-represented backgrounds, including low-income and first-generation Americans.
To continue Al’s tradition of support for diverse students, Golin and Roosevelt University hosted an inaugural “Al Affair” fundraiser event in December of 2018, and is planning its second annual event for the fall of 2019. Thanks to the generous contributions of Al’s family and friends and Golin’s industry network and clients, the Al Golin Scholarship and Fellowship fund is benefiting an increased number of students.
“Through his work with students at Roosevelt and senior executives across a broad set of industries, Al was supporting diversity and practicing inclusion long before it was the trendy thing to do,” said Margenett Moore-Roberts, Golin’s first-ever chief inclusion and diversity officer. “His efforts were deliberate and have had broad, lasting impact for the public relations industry. The example Al set in this regard is one we should all aspire to model and build upon.”
The fellows will attend professional development workshops and industry networking events, paving the way for a post-graduate internship with sponsor companies, including McDonald’s, Golin and select Interpublic Company agencies. They will also gain mentorship from senior PR executives at Golin, McDonald’s and ConAgra, with an ongoing commitment from Fred Cook, Chairman of Golin and Director of the Center for Public Relations at University of Southern California.
Al passed away at the age of 87, living to celebrate his agency’s 60th anniversary and 60-year partnership with McDonald’s – representing the longest running PR agency-client relationship that began after Al placed a cold call to McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc.
“Al’s life gave us a rich legacy,” said Cook. “Al’s death gave us a profound responsibility. Not only to remember him, but to build on the things he taught us.”
The Spring 2019 Al Golin Fellows are:
- Abisola Ajayi, international student from Lagos, Nigeria, MS Integrated Marketing Communications
- Karina Herrera from Glen Ellyn, IL, BA Integrated Marketing Communications
- Alondra Ibarra from Chicago, IL, BA Integrated Marketing Communications & Philosophy
- Darryl Langston Jr. from Chicago, IL, MS Integrated Marketing Communications
The 2018-2019 Al Golin Scholarship Recipient is:
- Roberto Rosas from Richton Park, IL, BA Integrated Marketing Communications Degree