Laura Gamo was born in Colombia and moved with her family to Florida when she was six. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina in 2016, she started her master’s studies in UT’s School of Advertising and Public Relations as the graduate assistant to the Chancellor’s Honors Program. Laura received an award from the Sammie Lynn Puett Endowment in Public Relations.
“I am finding my truth through words,” says Gamo. “As a woman of color and an immigrant to this country, I’ve become a unique hybrid as a student, an individual, and a professional. Having struggled to learn a new language and integrate myself into a host culture, I know the value of communicating with others and expressing ideas. More importantly, I recognize the need to empower and activate the voices of those who might be underrepresented or misunderstood.”
“I am extremely grateful for the assistantship that is enabling me to work toward these goals.”
In 2017, Gamo was selected from candidates across the country for a Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) fellowship by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. In addition to her full-time paid summer internship at R/GA in New York City, she participated in a virtual training series and in weekly agency-sponsored professional development workshops focused on the host agencies’ culture, work, skills, and expertise. As of January 2018, she is a public relations intern at The Tombras Group in Knoxville.
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