John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC (JGPR) and Lasell University announced the formal start of a strategic partnership that will place students from the university's public relations program into one of two Massachusetts offices at JGPR as part of Lasell's Connected Learning philosophy. 

The partnership will guarantee at least one Lasell student a credit-bearing internship at the JGPR agency each semester, as the company provides a bustling, high-energy learning environment for undergraduate students considering a career in public relations. 

High-level internships and Connected Learning opportunities provide valuable real-world experience for students while also helping them to build their resume through work with corporate, government, and non-profit clients.

Company founder John Guilfoil has been an adjunct professor of journalism and public relations at three higher education institutions for more than 11 years. He has taught various courses at Lasell since 2014 and is consistently impressed with the students who join the Lasell community and employees that graduate from the University. 

"I become more impressed with Lasell University every year. Lasell attracts smart, resourceful, motivated, and hard-working students, and graduates a senior class that is experienced and prepared for the workplace," Guilfoil said. "Lasell also takes the profession of public relations seriously and provides a top-quality public relations curriculum that I would match against any of the largest universities in New England. I am proud to hire Lasell students as interns, and it simply makes sense to formalize the process for our company." 

Two JGPR employees, Jordan Mayblum '12 and Taylor O'Neil '19, are Lasell alumni. The company has hired a total of three Lasell alumni and more than ten Lasell undergraduate interns over the past seven years.

One former JGPR intern, Lily Rivera (Lasell class of '21), moved on to become the full-time marketing and communications specialist for the town of Franklin, Massachusetts. 

“Internships are paramount to a Lasell education,” said Meryl Perlson, interim dean of Lasell’s School of Communication and the Arts. “When you leave with a Lasell degree, you are prepared to enter the workforce with the understanding of how theory blends with practice. This partnership will further prepare our students for successful careers as PR professionals, and we are so grateful for the opportunity.” 

About John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC:
Content. Strategy. Standards. With the philosophy that every police and fire department and government agency deserves effective communications and public relations on the same scale as major corporations, John Guilfoil Public Relations provides clear, concise written materials, communications strategy, website development, marketing materials, branding and crisis management services for its clients and responds to breaking news incidents for more than 400 police and fire departments, public schools, municipal governments and non-profits in nine states. The company is based in Georgetown, Massachusetts and was founded in 2013 by John Guilfoil, a former Boston Globe staff reporter who served as deputy press secretary for the late Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.