Lee alumnus Taylor Woodruff uses Lee Update experience in his career
Photo courtesy of Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.
After graduating from Lee in 2018 with a degree in public relations, Taylor Woodruff landed a job as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Bradley County Sheriff's Office (BCSO).
As a PIO, Woodruff’s responsibilities include all areas involving BCSO's image or relationship with the public. A typical workday for Woodruff includes communicating with the media, releasing arrest records, managing social media accounts and planning events.
Woodruff’s workdays do not end when he leaves the office, as he summarizes his role as “the gatekeeper of information.”
“Anytime that the news hears something on the police scanner … I am the one that they email, they text, they call,” Woodruff said. “That can happen any time of the day or night, so a PIO is never really off duty.”
Although working with judges, detectives, and forensic scientists can be exciting, Woodruff enjoys working with law enforcement officers and introducing them as public servants.
“My favorite part of my job is that I am a civilian that gets to work alongside law enforcement and support them in what they do,” said Woodruff. “Holding an office of public relations here, I get to be the one that humanizes them to the public … Law enforcement doesn’t have the best perception to some areas of our community, so I’m the one that gets to highlight all the good that they do every day. I think that’s very special.”
Bradley County Sheriff Steve Lawson recognizes the skills Woodruff brought from Lee that made him stand out during the hiring process.
“He was my hire because he represents the department,” Lawson said. “He could articulate, and I was really impressed by the way he talked, and I could see that he was very bright … I think the first impression is very important, no matter what you’re seeking.”
Woodruff’s background in hosting Lee Update allowed him to develop communication and public speaking skills he now uses at his job.
“I’m glad that I am not afraid of public speaking … I have Lee Update to thank for that,” said Woodruff. “I was a host on Lee Update, and I had no idea what the Lord was preparing me for. I just [hosted] because it sounded like fun. Now I see that the Lord was orchestrating it so I would have in front of the camera experience for this job.”
Jake Rice, a senior journalism major and producer for Lee Update, worked with Woodruff while he attended Lee. Rice emphasized the experience and skills students can gain from working with Lee Update to use in their future careers.
“Lee Update does a great job of teaching social skills and … indirectly, it’s public speaking,” said Rice. “You’re talking into a camera with thousands of people actually watching you. It’s going to be a day later, but that’s who you’re basically performing for.”
