Two Suffolk Students Join EMERGE Leadership Program

Fayth Cordeiro and Audrey Brennan were selected from hundreds of applicants for a yearlong public relations leadership program.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Internships

Screen-print poster illustration of smooth river stones balanced on a brick ledge in front of a brick facade, with one stone set apart, evoking a select cohort chosen from many. — Suffolk University students Fayth Cordeiro and Audrey Brennan were selected from hundreds of applicants for the yearlong EMERGE Leadership Program run by the Plank Center and Grossman Group Leadership Academy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Suffolk University junior Fayth Cordeiro and senior Audrey Brennan were selected for the EMERGE Leadership Program, a yearlong professional development initiative for public relations and communications students. The program, run by the Plank Center and Grossman Group Leadership Academy, accepts roughly 15 to 25 students each year out of hundreds of applicants.

Why it matters

The program offers accepted students personalized mentorship from experienced public relations executives and structured leadership training. For Boston-area students pursuing communications careers, it represents a competitive pathway into the industry.

The program accepts approximately 15 to 25 students annually from a pool of hundreds of applicants. The source does not report outcomes for past participants.

The players

Plank Center

The Plank Center is a public relations research and education organization that co-runs the EMERGE Leadership Program.

Grossman Group Leadership Academy

The Grossman Group Leadership Academy is a leadership development program that co-runs the EMERGE Leadership Program with the Plank Center.

The details

The yearlong program includes eight interactive online modules centered on leadership development and industry skills, virtual peer learning circles, and monthly Zoom meetings with mentors. Participants also attend an opening event in Chicago during the first week of November.

First week of November 2026: opening event in Chicago for the EMERGE program.
Yearlong: duration of the EMERGE program commitment.
Monthly: Zoom meetings with mentors throughout the program.

Market Landscape

Structured mentorship programs like EMERGE give emerging communications professionals a competitive advantage in a field where entry-level hiring is concentrated among applicants with prior leadership development. The selection of two Suffolk students highlights how university-affiliated students are gaining access to industry-run cohorts.

Students interested in similar leadership programs can look for structured cohorts that combine virtual learning with in-person networking events. Applicants should plan for a yearlong time commitment that includes monthly mentor meetings and online coursework.

The takeaway

Structured mentorship and peer learning can accelerate early-career development for students aiming for competitive communications roles. Students should look for programs that pair them with working executives and build a professional network.