For Gabriella Leal-Argueta ’28, studying public relations doesn’t stop with learning concepts in the classroom. Through Oglethorpe University’s student-led Weltner Consulting Agency (WCA), she is putting those lessons into practice, working with real clients and gaining hands-on experience in public relations and strategic communications.
A public relations major with a minor in business administration, Leal-Argueta serves as WCA’s director of PR & media relations. In the role, she helps lead the agency’s public relations efforts while building experience in writing, media outreach, research, content development and communications strategy.
“WCA gives me the opportunity to take what I learn in class and apply it to situations where our work has real-world goals and expectations,” Leal-Argueta said. “Rather than only learning about public relations concepts, I get to participate in the process of developing communications materials, researching audiences and media outlets, and thinking strategically about how to reach people.”
That opportunity recently included working with Oglethorpe alumna Kimberly O’Dell ’10, owner of Paris Baguette Vinings. Leal-Argueta helped promote the store’s official grand opening celebration, developing a press release, researching journalists and media outlets, creating personalized pitches and coordinating media outreach.
The work produced a particularly memorable milestone when the Marietta Daily Journal picked up the press release Leal-Argueta had distributed.
“Having my name listed as the media contact in a published article was especially rewarding because it allowed me to see the work I had put into the project translate into actual media coverage,” she said.
The project also gave Leal-Argueta experience with another important part of agency work: listening and responding to a client.
When WCA presented its campaign pitch, O’Dell encouraged the students to think beyond brand awareness and instead focus on experiential awareness, considering what guests should feel, experience and take away from a visit to Paris Baguette.
“We learned how important it is to listen closely to a client, understand the bigger picture behind their goals, and make sure our communications strategy reflects their vision rather than just the information we want to share,” Leal-Argueta said. “That feedback helped us approach the project more intentionally, and it was a valuable lesson in what strategic public relations looks like in practice.”
Leal-Argueta said the shared Oglethorpe connection created a sense of trust and made it especially rewarding to use the skills she is developing to support an alumna’s business.
“As an alumna, I always love engaging with OU students. Working with Gabriella and the Weltner Consulting Agency has been such a pleasure,” said O’Dell. “Seeing how students apply classroom theory into a real businesses has been impressive—they’re bringing such fresh ideas and energy into the cafe!”
WCA is also helping Leal-Argueta build a professional portfolio that extends beyond individual writing samples. She hopes to pursue a career in public relations, marketing or strategic communications, with particular interest in public image, reputation and crisis communications. Her long-term goal is to open her own PR firm.
“There is so much to learn from each project, and having the opportunity to apply what we learn in class to real clients while also helping grow WCA itself has been incredibly valuable,” she said.
