Grambling State News

NEW YORK, NY/GRAMBLING, LA – December 13, 2021 – G&S Business Communications (G&S), an integrated marketing communications agency that helps innovative companies change the world, and Grambling State University (GSU), a renowned 120-year-old historically Black university in the heart of Louisiana, have announced a new partnership conceived to help students gain real-world skills in the area of integrated marketing communications while elevating awareness of the accomplishments of Grambling alumni.

Dubbed GramFam Next Level, this partnership is a new initiative conceived to elevate awareness of academic excellence at GSU through a pro bono marketing campaign spotlighting notable alumni in key fields. These marketing efforts will be driven in a student-run agency environment by GSU students, guided by G&S team leaders. The goal is to further augment existing GSU coursework and practicum experiences while enabling GSU students to develop all aspects of a world-class digital marketing effort side-by-side with working professionals.

“We are very excited for this program, which is a result of the work of our DE&I Task Force and our Partnership & Advocacy pillar lead, Nicholas Love, GSU alumni and VP of digital marketing at G&S,” said Luke Lambert, President and CEO of G&S. “Over the past year, we set out to conceive and establish meaningful pro bono initiatives that would offer G&S the ability to provide services to Black/Non-Black POC/emerging individuals and communities and this does just that. We are grateful to Nicholas and our entire Task Force for their time and commitment in developing and leading this program.”

The scope of the program and partnership with G&S will provide students with a front-row seat working with industry professionals in real-time to produce strategic campaigns, content, and narratives. Students enrolled in GSU Practicum courses in broadcast, journalism, and web development will have a unique opportunity to spotlight the history, mission, and vision of their current environment while also enhancing their respective professional portfolios.

GSU President Rick Gallot issued the charge of “Building What’s Next’ for students, faculty, and staff. The whole G&S team is taking that charge to heart with a program and associated campaign designed to educate and create awareness about GSU’s robust academic enterprise and the alumni throughout the country who are the beneficiaries of GSU’s education and leadership development.

“Grambling State University continues to benefit from partnerships like G&S Business Communications because of alumni like Nicholas who use their platforms to advance the next generation. I am thankful for the partnership and confident that students will enjoy the experience that will result from their involvement,” said GSU President Rick Gallot.

With DE&I at the forefront of the business world, the GramFam Next Level program offers more to participants than helping them advance in their careers. It is intended to provide them with a deeper level of belonging, professional engagement, and training. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have served as a critical beacon of support to their students, who were not openly accepted into other higher learning facilities, as well as broader Black communities. HBCUs are steeped in American history and have served as a space where Black students can excel in ways that no one thought were possible.

In 2020, G&S created its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Task Force to help the agency build a meaningful and thoughtful approach to its DE&I efforts. The Task Force is focused on seven pillars designed to address the broadest possible range of issues at the agency and in the industry at large.

From the beginning, the G&S DE&I Task Force set out to actively support DE&I initiatives to help ensure POC and other marginalized groups’ voices are genuinely considered and help advance representation.

“As an HBCU alumnus and a two-time product of Grambling State University, I’ve directly experienced how the teachings at this institution have prepared me for what I’ve been able to accomplish throughout my career and currently at G&S Business Communications,” said Love. “The hands-on experience and relationships that students will have as a part of this partnership will be incredibly beneficial as Grambling prepares them for the next level in their careers. We’re working towards forming the preeminent student-run agency at an HBCU, and I’m incredibly excited to be on the front line of this concept both as an employee of G&S and an alumnus of Grambling.”

About G&S Business Communications
G&S Business Communications is a global independent business communications firm headquartered in New York, with offices in Chicago, Raleigh, North Carolina; Basel / Zurich, Switzerland. The agency helps innovative companies change the world, specializing in business communications across Advanced Manufacturing & Energy, Agribusiness, Financial & Professional Services, Healthcare & Wellness, and Home & Building. The firm’s global network extends across more than 50 countries through its PROI Worldwide partnership. Learn more at https://www.gscommunications.com/.

About Grambling State University
Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, is a historically black university that was founded in 1901. The institution has been accredited by SACSCOC, 13 associations, and in all programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents. A member of the University of Louisiana System, Grambling State University has the academic strengths of a major university with the benefits of a small college. Offering 46 undergraduate and graduate academic programs, the 590-acre campus is home to world-class athletics, an internationally renowned marching band, and vibrant student life that enables our scholars to grow and learn in a positive environment. For more information, visit https://www.gram.edu/.