Balancing Life On and Off the Field: Maegan Tomlinson Shares her Student Athlete Experience

Posted by Olivia Kennedy on

Article written by Abby Cloud, School of Communication student.

Students cultivate a variety of identities throughout their time in college, and Maegan Tomlinson is no exception. During her career at FSU, Tomlinson, a senior from Tallahassee, has interned for Johnson & Johnson, taken courses in the Public Relations major, played four years of Division 1 Softball, and was invited to the Women’s College World Series with her team in 2021, just to name a few of her achievements. 

Maegan Tomlinson, Public Relations major and athlete on the Women’s Softball Team, succeeds academically and athletically while at FSU. (Photo courtesy of Maegan Tomlinson)

Tomlinson was introduced to the Public Relations major following her commitment to the school’s athletic program. “I love how the Public Relations program here at Florida State is a limited access and competitive major,” said Tomlinson. “It relates to being an athlete because you constantly have to push yourself to uphold the expectations for success in the program.”   

With courses and electives like Social Media Campaigns, Tomlinson has crafted skills that have allowed for success in the program. “I feel like I have been very prepared through the courses I have taken in my major,” said Tomlinson, who served as a Special Operations Intern this past summer with Johnson & Johnson.  

Currently, Tomlinson is completing her capstone Public Relations project, where she is working with other students to create an integrated campaign for a campus client. Tomlinson’s commitment to her education has earned her a spot on the Dean’s List and membership in the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.

Tomlinson has spent her four years dedicated to her sport and her team. She serves as the Softball Representative for FSU’s Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and as a Representative for the Atlantic Coast Conference Student Athlete Advisory Council. Within FSU’s SAAC, Tomlinson works alongside other teams and student athletes at FSU to create cohesion and pass proper legislation for the representation of all athletes. 

As she tackles her final semester, Tomlinson hopes to finish this year at the Women’s College World Series again and is aiming to work as an internal public relations representative for a company upon graduation.

To learn more about the Public Relations program, visit https://comm.cci.fsu.edu/programs/undergrad-programs/public-relations/