Located at the 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 students from a variety of majors including communication & media, business and psychology, giving 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.
ELANEY REED
UMSL Senior, Elaney Reed, joined Barnett Agency in August 2025 to develop skills in social media strategy, content creation and project management. After graduation, Elaney plans to use her Bachelor's of Communications and Certificate in Public Relations to work with local companies to help tell their stories.
Jaela Franklin
UMSL Senior, Jaela Franklin joined Barnett Agency in August 2026 to continue working with a client she studied as part of the PR capston course.
TRINITY ATKINS
UMSL Senior, Trinity Atkins, joined the Barnett Agency in August 2026 to expand her expertise in psychology and social media.
Belma Mujakic
UMSL Senior, Belma Mujakic joined the Barnett Agency in January 2026 to continue working with a client she worked with as part of the PR capstone course.
Kebeb Zimmerman
UMSL freshman, Kebeb Zimmerman, joined Barnett Agency in August 2026. Kebeb plans to of grow his skills in communication and public relations with the agency.
BARNETT AGENCY Founders
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.
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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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 the 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. ​