Jennifer Pena-Cruz

Welcome to my website!

About Me!

A quick recap about my life...

Born and raised in Clearwater, Florida, I am a proud first-generation Mexican-American and the first in my family to pursue higher education. My background has instilled in me a strong work ethic and a commitment to making the most of every opportunity which are qualities I carry into both my personal and professional life. I am currently working to complete a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Public Relations and Advertising at the University of South Florida, where I continue to refine both my creative and strategic abilities. I am also the current Social Media Manager for USF's Public Relations Student Society of America and the city of Clearwater's 2025 Public Communications Intern. Through these experiences, I am building a strong foundation in communication, marketing, advertising, and public relations, while developing skills in media writing, graphic design and social media content creation.

When I’m (finally) not working or buried in homework, I like to spend time at local cafés, watch a movie on $8 Tuesdays, journal and read, or grab a sweet treat with friends.

Let's Connect!

My Work

City of Clearwater

As the 2025–2026 intern, I supported the Public Communications team by managing social media, capturing event photography, writing internal stories for the newsletter, assisting with email communications, and helping build webpages to effectively share messages with thousands

of residents.

Public Relations Student Society of America

As the current Social Media Manager for PRSSA, I lead and execute all of the organization’s promotional materials, including graphics, flyers, and video content, ensuring consistent branding and engaging messaging across all platforms.

Writing Samples

Strategic AP Style writing developed for press releases, internal stories, and email newsletters, strengthening organizational voice and delivering precise, engaging communication.

Graphic Design

Explore a curated selection of my design work created with Canva and Adobe platforms for social media and print flyers. Each project reflects cohesive branding and thoughtfully crafted marketing collateral.

Spanish Translations

Review selected Spanish translations I’ve completed for the City of Clearwater, demonstrating accuracy, cultural awareness, and clear public communication.

Photography

A collection of photographs documenting special events and community engagement efforts across Clearwater.

Testimonials

"Jennifer has been a truly outstanding member of our communication team, and her contributions made a meaningful and lasting impact on our public relations and outreach efforts.

Throughout her time with us, Jennifer consistently went above and beyond expectations. She was conscientious, detail-oriented, and remarkably careful in her work. Her accuracy and professionalism set her apart; she handled every assignment with maturity and pride."

"One of Jennifer’s standout contributions was leading a reels training for our staff. While our department understood the value of vertical video and had attended multiple webinars, we struggled with moving from theory to execution. Jennifer developed a clear, practical PowerPoint training, challenged staff to create their own reel and facilitated a group viewing session to discuss the strengths of each video. It made the process approachable and collaborative. That project helped move our team from hesitation to action and had a lasting impact on how we approach short-form video."

- Heather Parsons, Public Information Manager for the City of Clearwater

- Allie Chandler Baier, Neighborhoods Division Manager for the City of Clearwater

"Since Jennifer joined the marketing and communications team for PRSSA we have been able to engage our membership and expand our reach. Since her entering leadership, we have added a LinkedIn account, as well as posts and stories that follow online trends to the club’s Instagram account. She is a talented student leader and exceptional team member and has even more potential for growth as she moves toward graduation in 2027. She also works outside of school to support herself but remains a strong student and engaged PRSSA member."

- Mildred Perreault, Co-Advisor for the Walter E. Gristci Public Relations Student Society of America at the University of South Florida