By Kaitlyn Redish

VSU First Lady Dr. Dacia Charlesworth and Speech Communication Assistant Professor Dr. Joseph Mitchell were the good natured victims of the third annual VSU Public Relations Student Society of America Roast on Nov. 17.

Charlseworth was roasted and toasted by her husband, VSU President Dr. William McKinney, and Will Jimerson, a former VSU Student Government Association president who now works for VSU as an admissions counselor.  They told funny but kind personal stories of cupcakes and cats and courting and the joys of perfectionism.  It was a humorous but loving tribute to the woman they referred to as the “mother” of everyone at Valdosta State University.

 

The two students who roasted Mitchell poked gentle fun at the man who has taught them a variety of public relations courses.  As they mimicked him, his favorite words and phrases came back to haunt him in the bright lights of the Bailey Science Center.  All who knew Mitchell enjoyed laughing at the good natured jousting.

 

“The roast was so much fun,” said Caroline Wilson, VSU PRSSA president.“ I loved hearing everyone laughing and getting into listening to the roasters and their jokes. It makes me feel good to know this group of members supports us and our events so much!” PRSSA plans to continue holding the roast annually, according to Wilson.

 

PRSSA members also solicited a variety of prizes, including a year of free Chick-Fil-A, for a raffle they held in conjunction with the roast.  Together, they raised over $175 for the Suzannah Patterson and Raymond Young Scholarship Fund, which, when full funded at the $25,000 level, will provide annual travel money for PRSSA  and Speech Comm students for many years to come.