PR Student, Marina Roeder Turns Inclusive Excellence into PR Opportunities

By: Sasha Lieberman

For Michigan State University junior Marina Roeder, inclusion isn’t just a box to check; it’s her purpose. From leading her sorority’s diversity efforts to interning with MSU’s Office for Inclusive Excellence and Impact, the northeast Ohio native is using public relations as her way to make the world more inclusive, one story at a time.

Roeder’s passion for inclusivity began long before college, rooted in her awareness of how stories shape the way people see and think about each other. She says it wasn’t until she came to MSU that she realized she could combine that passion for creative writing.

“Since I was young, I’ve always been very involved in politics and the social climate in this country,” Roeder said. “I’m a very loving person, and I love to make others feel like they have a place. I wanted to do something that was more creative, which is what drew me to PR.”

Now, as a communications intern for MSU’s Office for Inclusive Excellence and Impact, Roeder spends her days building connections through words. Working remotely, she uses Microsoft Teams to collaborate with her supervisor and co-workers on assignments and brainstorm new ideas.

“I work really closely with our communication interns on formulating how we’re going to increase outreach and put new opportunities out there” she said. “We bounce ideas off each other, create content for social media, and figure out how to make our messaging feel meaningful and impactful.”

Roeder said her work focuses on recruiting student ambassadors who promote campus resources and embody inclusive excellence in action. She’s also working with the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center on a story for MSU Today that celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month, a project that she said feels both exciting and meaningful for helping people connect with different backgrounds.

Before her internship, Roeder served as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion director for her sorority, Kappa Delta. During her term, she introduced a new bylaw requiring members to attend inclusivity events each semester.

“That experience taught me how to make DEI resonate with others,” she said. “We even created an inclusive-language workshop and built connections with multicultural councils on campus. I’ve learned to frame inclusivity around kindness and respect – it’s about helping people feel heard rather than dividing them.”

Through these experiences, Roeder said she’s learned that meaningful change doesn’t come from confrontation but from compassion.

Looking ahead, Roeder says she hopes to continue combining advocacy and storytelling, using her writing skills to educate, make people feel recognized, and ensure every story she tells makes someone feel seen.

“I want to use writing to educate and make people feel recognized,” she said. “Keep learning, stay curious, and never underestimate how your passions can shape your future.”

For more information on MSU’s Inclusive Excellence and Impact programs and how MSU interns contribute to them, please visit the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Impact, at https://inclusion.msu.edu/.