2024 Yarbrough Fellows Named

Each semester, Grady College selects four students to be Yarbrough Fellows. Madden Callahan, Shannon Lorusso, Lila Maiolo and NaYoung Song have been named as the 2024 Yarbrough Fellows.

The Yarbrough Fellows program offers Grady College students the opportunity to gain communications experience while serving the College.

Callahan and Lorusso are Yarbrough-Grady Communications Fellows, working with the Grady College Office of Communications strategizing Grady College’s social media content, writing features for the website and creating graphics.

Maiolo and Song are Yarbrough-Grady Crisis Fellows and are part of the Crisis Communications Think Tank leadership team by helping coordinate online content creation, event activities, and other communication efforts.

The Yarbrough-Grady Fellowship is funded by Dick Yarbrough (ABJ ’59), an alumnus of Grady College who has helped promote the success of Grady students for many years. Yarbrough also gives back to students via the C. Richard Yarbrough Student Support Fund, which has provided stipends to hundreds of Grady students for more than a decade. He is the benefactor of the C. Richard Yarbrough Professor of Crisis Communication Leadership, held and directed by Yan Jin.

Learn more about each student below.

Lila Maiolo

Lila Maiolo is a Public Relations major from Chicago, IL, set to graduate in Spring 2025. She recently completed a summer internship at Edelman as a Corporate Reputation Intern in Chicago and is in her second year as a Yarbrough Crisis Communication Fellow. Lila is also an active member of PRSSA, further developing her expertise in the field.

What has been your favorite Grady event?

As a member of PRSSA, one of my favorite Grady events is the senior banquet held at the end of each year to celebrate graduating members. I’ve been on the event planning committee since freshman year, and I’ve loved getting to bond with other members and celebrate their achievements before they head off to post-grad! 

How do you practice self-care as a busy student?

Life at UGA can be hectic, so making time for self-care is crucial. For me, this means staying active through regular exercise and ensuring I get enough sleep to feel refreshed. As a social person, I also find that spending time with friends is one of the best ways to recharge. Beyond academics, UGA has lots of fun activities, like game days, which bring me a lot of joy and keep my spirits high. To balance these with my responsibilities, I stay focused and efficient with my schoolwork, ensuring I have time for both work and fun.

NaYoung Song

NaYoung Song is pursuing a Master’s in Integrated Advertising & Public Relations, expected to graduate in May 2025. Originally from Seoul, Republic of Korea, she has gained diverse experience across multiple roles, including being a crisis communication intern at UGA, working as a management support/HR intern at Telechips and a communication intern in CANLAB.

What is one piece of advice you would offer to incoming freshmen?

I would highly recommend them to simply enjoy the journey! College is just the beginning of everything you’ll want to accomplish in life, so it’s important to embrace the process. Don’t get too caught up in academics or just a single experience alone, but spend time doing what you love and with people who matter to you. In the end, it’s those experiences and memories that will shape who you are and the kind of life you’ll want to pursue.

What has been your favorite Grady event?

I don’t have a specific event in mind since I enjoy the variety of events Grady offers, but I’m particularly fond of the guest speaker lectures. As someone who loves hearing about others’ experiences, these talks always leave me feeling inspired and motivated, both academically and personally. I also appreciate how Grady strikes a balance between casual events, like Dawgs with the Dean, and more informative sessions focused on academics and careers. Attending these events provides a refreshing break and keeps me engaged.

How do you stay motivated during challenging times in college?

I’ve been struggling with this for a while, but I feel like I’ve recently gained more clarity. I love organizing things and taking some time to reflect on what truly brings happiness to my life. In the past, I was tied to the idea that a happy life equated to having a successful career. However, after taking the time to figure out what really makes life enjoyable, especially considering the long journey ahead of me, I now set smaller, more achievable short-term goals, along with long-term ones that I can work toward step by step. This approach keeps me motivated and helps me focus on the bigger picture, without getting too caught up in the smaller challenges.

Shannon Lorusso

Shannon Lorusso is a Journalism major with an English minor, currently pursuing a Double Dawg PR Master’s degree, expected to graduate in December 2024. Originally from Suwannee, Georgia, she has gained valuable experience through internships and leadership roles. Shannon has been involved in Dawg Camp, served as a 2023 Orientation Leader and a Resident Assistant in Russell Hall, interned for Visit Athens, was a 2024 Yarbrough Fellow, and is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and Talking Dog, further developing her skills in public relations and digital media.

What is your dream job?

My dream job is in communications for a travel company. I’ve always wanted to work beyond the traditional 9-to-5, knowing early on that I love connecting with people. My summer with Visit Athens confirmed my passion for travel PR, where I learned to promote brands through effective communication and reputation management. In this role, I could apply my skills while enhancing people’s experiences—something I’d thrive in. Plus, I’d constantly meet new people and hear their stories, which I think is the best part of communication jobs!

What is your favorite college memory?

My favorite college memories are a collection of small moments. When I started college, I was a different person from who I am now about to graduate. The best moments were the nights spent with friends, watching movies and doing the seasonal craft my freshman year roommate’s mom sent, or becoming a resident assistant and watching my residents experience the same. It’s hard to choose just one memory, but the moments of gratitude and belly laughs with friends stand out the most.

What skills have you gained in college that you think will benefit you the most in your career?

College has shown me the power of leading with empathy and authenticity. It’s easy to get caught up in the transactional side of school or work, but a people-first mindset takes you much further. You also learn incredible things simply by actively listening to others.

Madden Callahan

Madden Callahan is a Public Relations major with minors in Fashion Merchandising and Communications, set to graduate in May 2025. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Madden has gained hands-on experience through roles such as a Growth Intern at Aprio, LLC, and as a Student Communications Worker for UGA EITS.

What is your favorite free-time activity?

In the past year, I have gotten really into pilates classes. I find it’s a great way to either unwind after a long day or start my day off on the right foot. Finding ways to take just an hour purely for yourself is vital to maintaining a good work/life balance. Take some time to get off your phone or computer and do something that makes you feel good! Whether it be a craft like crocheting, exercise or reading, taking some time to yourself every day is an undervalued pastime.

Where would you tell an Athens visitor to go?

I have so many fun recommendations! For restaurants, my favorites are ZZ & Simone’s, Marker 7 and Puma Yu’s. Each restaurant has a completely different vibe, but you can’t order wrong at any of them. I dream about the blackened salmon BLT from Marker 7 and the vodka pasta from ZZ & Simone’s. For places around Athens, I’ve always loved the Botanical Gardens. If you need a place to go on a walk, sit under a tree or look at art installations, the Botanical Gardens has something to offer. 

How has your time at Grady shaped your career goals?

Before becoming a Grady student, I always felt silly for how much social media interested me. I had been told it was a waste of time by so many people, but after coming to Grady, I met tons of like-minded people that are interested in how social media works and why certain things get traction. I have learned that pop culture knowledge is not only a fun skill to have, but also a very useful one in my field. Being a Grady student has taught me how to turn my interests into a viable career path (and ways to make use of being on my phone all the time).

Editor: Madden Callahan, emc50486@uga.edu