Located at University of Missouri - St. Louis, Department of Communication & Media
THOUGHTFUL SOLUTIONS
Students Creating a Strategic Approach to PR
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LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE
The Barnett Agency is a student-run organization at the University of Missouri - St. Louis in the Department of Communication & Media focused on providing clients with strategic communication campaigns and public relations solutions that are developed to meet clients' needs. Services provided to both on-campus and community clients can include communication research, content creation, writing, photography and social media management.
The Barnett Agency supports furthering students' opportunities to expand their leadership, planning, and creativity skills through unique campaign experiences, personal and professional development, and relationship building.
GET TO KNOW US
Our team is made up of talented professionals who come from diverse backgrounds, which gives The Barnett Agency an unbeatable advantage: multidisciplinary expertise. We are a friendly and creative bunch, and look forward to helping your brand advance and adapt to today’s needs.
Jonathan Stokes
UMSL Senior, Jonathan Stokes, joined Barnett Agency in January 2024 to develop skills in social media strategy, content creation and project management. After graduation, Jonathan plans to use his Bachelor's of Communications and Certificate in Public Relations to work with local companies to help tell their stories. The Barnett Agency is an excellent opportunity for students to flex their talents and hone their skills before graduation while working with real clients.
Marwa Kafafy
UMSL Sophomore, Marwa Kafafy, joined the Barnett Agency in August of 2024. She joined, seeing the opportunity to grow her skills and meet new people. She is currently getting her Bachelors in Political Science, and Strategic Communications, with an emphasis in International Relations. She aspires to become an ambassador after graduation, or a career in law, where she can flourish her communication skills that she has gained here at the Barnett Agency. She also co-runs the College of Arts and Sciences social media page with Cobie.
Miah Williams
UMSL junior, Miah Williams, joined the Barnett Agency in September of 2024. Miah joined in hopes of growing her skills in communication and public relations with the agency. Miah attend to graduate with a Strategic Communications Bachelor and hopes to continue her studies in Grad school.
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Cobie Moses
UMSL senior, Cobie Moses, joined the Barnett Agency in September of 2024. Cobie wants to help grow and build content for UMSL's social media. He currently manages the social media accounts for UMSL's College of Arts and Sciences along with Marwa. After he graduates, he wants to work as a social media manager or on a communications team. Cobie hopes the agency can help him grow in his understanding of PR and social media.
BARNETT AGENCY ALUMNI TEAM
ALISHA PHILLIPS-JONES
Founding member, Alisha Phillips-Jones, graduated in 2020. Her work to launch The Barnett Agency resulted in a student-run PR firm at UMSL dedicated to providing students with real-world experience managing client needs.
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ANNIE O'DONOGHUE
Annie O'Donoghue, joined The Barnett Agency in January 2021. Bringing her professional experience to the team, she managed the social media accounts for UMSL’s Department of Communication & Media. Her goal is to eventually have her own social media consulting business or work on the PR team for a woman-owned business.
JOSIE SANTEL
Josie Santel graduated in May 2023​. Josie is now a Marketing Specialist and Personal trainer at Integrity Training System working on designing and implement strategic marketing campaigns across social media, email, and paid advertising platforms to drive brand awareness, engagement, and lead generation.
KALI SKIKAS
After graduating in May 2023, Kali found work at Hunter Engineering working as a digital marketing specialist. Kali role is to help execute marketing campaigns and run e-commerce.
MARIAH LINDSEY
Mariah Lindsey, a founding member of The Barnett Agency, worked tirelessly to launch a student-run PR firm committed to finding solutions to challenges facing clients.
MIKAYLA WOOD
Mikayla Wood graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor's of Arts in Communication. Mikayla is now a Community Living Supervisor for Easterseals Midwest as of 2025.
SARAH KELLY
Sarah Kelly graduated with her BA in Communication, as well as a certificate in Public Relations. She worked with HavenHouse St. Louis to create social media posts, plan fundraisers, and more.
Sarah works with STLCC orientation, where she works on helping new students.
VINCE COSTA
Vince Costa graduated in May of 2024. Vince is now at Flat Branch Home Loans as a Content Creator and freelances for 1609 Marketing as a Social Media Specialist.
BARNETT AGENCY SUPERVISOR
Jill Alexander, APR, Fellow PRSA, serves as teaching professor and public relations certificate coordinator, as well as faculty advisor to UMSL's PRSSA chapter and The Barnett Agency.
Following a 30-year career in public relations and corporate communication, Alexander chose to share her insights and inspire future public relations practitioners at University of Missouri – St. Louis. She brings a wealth of expertise in media relations, corporate communication, internal communication, crisis communication, and community relations to the classroom.
In a previous role as senior director, corporate communication, Alexander has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale), Miami Herald, Denver Post, Kansas City Star, St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Louis Business Journal, Pittsburgh Post, Pittsburgh Tribune, Quad-City Times, Waterloo Courier, SEMissourian (Cape Girardeau), Vicksburg Post, Natchez Democrat, Mobile Press-Register, Biloxi Sun-Herald and numerous television stations across the United States.
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