Alison L. Roberts
Just the Facts.

A writer, pop culture junkie, collector of things and sometime-musician, I started reading and scribbling at an obscenely early age and by three-and-a-half, had already landed my first public relations gig as my baby brother's official spokesperson -- much to the chagrin of my parents and other responsible adults.

The career path decided upon, all that remained was to fine-tune how one could actually make a living at it.

The University of Florida hooked me, in my junior year of high school, with their beautiful campus and well-regarded College of Journalism and Communications. (Not necessarily in that order.)

After a brief flirtation with the journalism/reporting track, I discovered the "J-School" offered the perfect program for semi-obnoxious people who wanted to learn at least a little about each of the school's disciplines. I graduated with a B.S. in Public Relations a little over a year and a half later.

Having decided that full-on corporate was not the way I wanted to go, I pursued opportunities that sounded interesting or offered me the chance to learn and do new things -- from pre- and post-production work on video shoots and on-air television and radio spokesperson duties to writing ad copy, structuring strategic marketing campaigns and crafting communications programs.

Do you know anyone who has served as the international spokesperson for a manatee? Is the publicist for a rock band? Is an Internet publisher? And is the marketing director for an international fine art company?

Now you do.