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Rachel James-Terry is the associate director of public relations in University Communications and Marketing at Jackson State University.
James-Terry received her Bachelor and Master of Art in English from JSU. She has spent a combined 22 years in the media, public relations, and corporate litigation industry. Her work has appeared in USA Today, the Detroit Free Press, the Clarion Ledger, the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting and other major news outlets.
Additionally, James-Terry served on the strategic planning committee for the Maynard Institute School of Journalism Education with other distinguished media leaders, who helped redefine goals for the institute, which led to a series of new programs for national media organizations. She was also instrumental in critical roundtable discussions with the Kettering Foundation regarding media relations, public relations and diversity. At the Clarion Ledger, James-Terry helped changed the state papers’ approach to storytelling centered on the Black experience and helped improve diversity and inclusion efforts.
James-Terry currently serves as media relations chair for Jackson Indie Music Week – the largest independent music festival in the state of Mississippi. She is also marketing and media relations chair for Stewpot’s Taste of Mississippi – the longest-running food festival fundraiser in Mississippi.
“I am humbled by the opportunity,” said James-Terry. “As an alum of JSU, I owe a lot to this institution for helping to shape me into the professional I am today. I am also grateful to university administrators and my executive director for their continuous acknowledgment of my contributions.”
Previously, James-Terry served as writer and editor for public relations, where she pitched and generated positive institutional news stories about University programs, research, faculty, staff and student achievement. She also created and managed editorial timelines for University publications, and advised on strategies to communicate major news to media outlets, among other public relations and media relations duties.
James-Terry also previously served as Vice President of Education and Vice President of Membership for the Mississippi Paralegal Association. She is a member of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.