UA Advertising Seniors Selected for National Minority-centric Conference

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama seniors Antwon Key and Courtney McCall have been selected to attend a national conference for minority members in advertising next week in New York City.

Key and McCall will travel to the Big Apple Sept. 23 for the “Here Are All the Black People in Advertising” conference, which calls attention to the need for greater diversity in the advertising workforce. It stemmed from a conversation among industry professionals pondering why the African-American presence in the advertising industry was lacking and was originally called “Where Are All the Black People In Advertising?”

“It’s nice to go to a conference with people who come from the same type of cultural background as you and to see what they had to do to get to this point in their careers,” said McCall, a double major in advertising and interior design from Montgomery. “I like that it’s a form of awareness because minorities aren’t represented in the advertising industry as much. I think it’s a good way to make kids aware that minority students can make a difference in the ad industry. We need to represent our community and our culture.”

Key, a 32-year-old non-traditional student from Birmingham, said he is excited for this opportunity in New York, “the capital of advertising.” He said the event’s framework caused him to look at his career choice differently.

“I never really thought about there being a lack of diversity in advertising,” Key said. “This creates an opportunity for me to be educated and to inform other people about it.”

Dr. Joseph Phelps, chairman of the department of advertising and public relations, said the conference is a unique opportunity for Key and McCall to show off what they have learned at UA.

“Antwon and Courtney will be interacting with leading advertising professionals,” Phelps said. “This is an excellent opportunity for them to learn from the pros and also to show off the skills they have honed in our program.”

Key said he would like to become an art director for an agency once he graduates, and McCall hopes to start a nonprofit to help underprivileged students learn about branding themselves for employment opportunities.