College of Fellows
The PRSA College of Fellows is the gold standard for public relations professionals. Induction into the College of Fellows is an emergence into new ways of serving our profession and our colleagues. Over 700 members have been inducted since its inception in 1989. Whether you have 20 plus years of professional experience or recently received your APR, continue the lifelong journey with the College of Fellows.
While it is an honor to be a member of the College, it is not an honorary organization. Rather, it is an active group of experienced professionals who enrich our profession by continuing to leave a significant footprint on the public relations body of knowledge. A rigorous application and peer review process culminates in inducting into membership these ‘best of the best.’
Selection to the College is considered the pinnacle of one’s career and the beginning of the professional’s next career phase, sharing expertise and knowledge as they continue to grow professionally and expand their careers.
Additional Information
*Indicates that this Fellow is deceased
Jill Spiekerman Bonham
Missy Burchart
Vivian T. Dávila
Karen Garnik
Michael S. Gross
Kevin P. Kane
Eva Keiser
Michelle Olson
Susan van Barneveld
Melissa Vela-Williamson
Candee Wolf
Montrie Rucker Adams
Kelliann Amico
Jenny Barker
Jennifer Regen Bisbee
Carolyn Smith Casertano
Jacque Coe
Marcia DiStaso
Christie L. Goodman
David W. Honchul
Meredith Libbey
Joyce Lofstrom
Mark Mohammadpour
Lori M. Quiller
Raquel Rivera Torres
Frances A. Stephenson
Ann Marie Varga
Samantha Villegas
David Vossbrink
Brandon Wilson
Ellen Averill
Sandra R. Brodnicki
Jeremy C. Burton
Clark P. Dumont, M.S.
Jamie D. Floer
Kelly C. Gaggin, PhD
Lauren Green-Caldwell
J. Elyse Hammett
Wendy Shill Kurtz
Kena L. Lewis
Debra Peterson
Sally Ridenour
Tracy Schario
Bey-Ling Sha, Ph.D.
Pamela Thompson, MBA
Laura Moore Van Hoosier
Rebecca M. Villarreal
Jill Allread
Andrew Corner
Ellen Crane
Stephen Dupont
Alison L. Gaulden
Lisa F. Lochridge
Robert G. (Bob) McCullough
William D. Moak
Renea P. Morris
Lt. Col. Christian Patterson
Samuel James Morrey Sims
David H. Thompson
Michelle Von Tersch
Judith (Judy) Smith Asbury
Kathy Barbour
Pam Gutel Campbell
Kelly Jackson Davis
Ronele M. Dotson
Kim Marks Malone
Marlene S. Neill, Ph.D.
Jo Ann S. LeSage Nelson
Susan S. Pollard
Mike Porter, Ed.D
Christopher E. Vadnais
Mary Louise VanNatta
Clare L. Wade
Kevin M. Waetke
Brooke Worden
Stephen Michael Brown
Gail Dundas
Jennifer Young Dzwonar
Jessica M. Graham
Rebecca Huckaby
Kenneth Hagihara
Thomas J. Jollie
Paul G. Omodt
Echelle Jobe Rutschman
William Swanger
Janet E. Swiecichowski
Denise Blackburn-Gay
Katie Coates
Myra S. Cocca
Daniel R. Dunne
Jennifer Lane Grizzle
Suzanne Hartman
Mark W. McClennan
Timothy S. Penning, Ph.D.
Philip Poole
Stacy A. Smith
Brian S. Terrett
Loring Barnes
Joseph A. Brennan
Dotti Gallagher
Kevin Gaydosh
Janelle Guthrie
David Hakensen
Barbara Paynter
Sonja Popp-Stahly
Nancy J. Sterling
Kaye D. Sweetser
James W. (J.W.) Arnold
W. Gregory Bailey
Kay Barkin
Kristie Byrum
Mary J. Clark
Melissa K. Clark
Dr. Deborah A. Davis
Catherine S. Dunkin
Michelle J. Egan
Aaron Ellis
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal
Robert T. Hastings
Mary T. Henige
Sherry Kast
Jangyul Robert Kim
Mitchell E. Marovitz
Jeri Matheney
Margaret C. Ritsch
Robert F. Schultz
Kristine M. Simoes
Jaron M. Terry
Ana Toro, APR
Larry M. Weiner
Lauren F. Brookey
E. Ronald Culp
Rosanna M. Fiske
Checky Herrington
Barbara Kerr
Lori L. Marble
Michael L. McDougall
W. Patrick McSweeney
Paula L. Pedene
Michael A. Pflughoeft
David L. Remund, Ph.D.
Sara Spaulding
Charles R. Suits
Susan Balcom Walton
Judy DeRango Wicks
Gregory J. Zimprich
Anita Brightman
Douglas Cannon
Fred Cook
Amy Coward
Sandra Duhé
Geri Evans
Michele Ewing
William Gay
Laura Hammel
Suzanne Holroyd
Rose McKinney
Christopher Payne
Robert Sheldon
Brenda Smith
Olga Mayoral-Wilson
Kelly Womer
Kristie Aylett
Vicki Bagwell*
Brook DeWalt
Kathleen Donohue Rennie
Mark Dvorak
Mary Eaddy
Janet Hart
Susan Hart
Betsy Hays
William Jasso
Chris Lynch
Chad Perry
Douglas Spong
Gigi Westerman
Jill R. Alexander
Barbara A. Burfeind
Dianne Danowski Smith
Karen Mess Frashier
Barbara S. Hyman
Raymond L. Kotcher
John Charles Mitchell
Gail E. Rymer
Deborah A. Silverman
Linda L. Staley
Michele A. Swaner
Philip Tate
Tom M. Unger
Julie Ann Vincent
Frederic L. Whiting*
Steven C. Zenofsky
Dana Birkes
Chris Bozman
Michael Cherenson
Joe Gollehon
Beth Hallisy
Janet Kacskos
Irene Maslowski
Melinda Morgan Kartsonis
Ellyn Pollack
Sydney Ayers
Jack Berkman
Jacqueline Clark
Jane Dvorak
Julie Fix
John Forde, Ph.D.
Dennis Gaschen
Amiso George, Ph.D.
Jodi Horton
Jeffrey Julin
Fran Onofrio
Judy Parker
Susan Whyte Simon
Elizabeth Toth, Ph.D.
Richard Batyko
John Deveney, ABC
Anne Dubois, CPRC
Lynne Timpani Friedmann
Allen Kirk Hazlett
Margaret Ann Hennen
Stephen Johnstone*
Paul Kincaid
Nance Larsen
Diane Gage Lofgren*
Sandra Longcrier
Ann R. Carden*
Nora Carr*
Ray A. Crockett*
Anthony D’Angelo
Jeanette Drake, Ph.D.
Tom Gable
Alan L. Gaudynski
Mary Graybill
Steve Iseman, Ph.D.
Erik C.A. Johnson
Ellen A. Liston
Mickey G. Nall
Lea-Anne O’Hare Germinder
Elizabeth A. Pecsi
Shelli A. Ryan
Robert S. Saline
B. Kathleen Skipper
Helen M. Sullivan
Marisa Vallbona
Joan Gladstone
David R. Grossman, ABC
Scott Hanson
Bruce K. Hetrick
M. Larry Litwin
Janet Oppenheimer
Bonnie Parnell Riechert, Ph.D.
Margalit Toledano, Ph.D.
Barbara Jeanne Whitman
Henry J. Amann Jr.
Thomas L. Amberg
Lynn D. Appelbaum
Jimmy Martin Autry, CCC
Susan G. Barnes
Alan R. Freitag, Ph.D
Donald L. Ferguson
Del Galloway
Kathryn D. Hubbell
Donald P. Kirchoffner*
James A. McClure
Gary D. McCormick
Robin Schell
Diane Slaughter, CAE
Stacey Smith
Ira W. Yellen
Bruce T. Batten
Reed B. Byrum*
Myra J. Borshoff Cook
Suzanne Sparks FitzGerald, Ph.D.
Judy Ganulin
Al Golin
Cary A. Greenwood
Vincent Hazleton, Ph.D.
Roland H. King
William M. Lawrence
Blake D. Lewis, III
John R. Lyday
Debbie A. Mason
John J. Mead, CAE*
Merrie Elyn Meyers-Kershaw
John J. Moscatelli
Ronald Owens
Robert C. Ross
Carol A. Scott
David L. Shank
Martha W. Steger
Frank Walsh
Barbara W. Wellnitz
Mara Woloshin
Glynn A. Young
Edward Albanesi
David Bressen*
Jeffrey S. Douglas
Mary Dulle
Dr. Carol Hackley
Hatti Hamlin
Dr. Julie Henderson
Thomas Hoog
Katherine Hutt
Dan Millar
Elise Mitchell
Liz Oliphant
Captain Robert Pritchard
Deborah Radman
Deborah Saline
Dr. Shirley Serini
Alison Sneider
Robert Stone*
Joette Storm
Frederick Bagg
Gail Baker, Ph.D.
Mary Deming Barber
Michael Furtney
Gene Hall
Sandra Knoesel
Devere Logan
Donald Miles
Elaine Nathanson
Mary Phelan
Robert Ristino, Ph.D.
Laurie Sherman
Donna Stein
Joseph Trahan, III, Ph.D.
J. Lindsey Wolf*
Nancy Wood
D. Sean Brickell*
Marleen C. Burford
John R. (Rick) Fischer, Ph.D.
Jim Haynes
Howard Penn Hudson*
Stanton H. Hudson, Jr.
Gary McKillips
Roberta Wong Murrary
Robert J. Oltmanns
Honey Rand, Ph.D.
Kelly Rossman-McKinney*
Kenneth G. Trester
Steve Turnbo*
Kenneth G. Ulrich
Tom Vitelli
Nancy M. Wiser
Carolyn Bobo
Marty Campanello*
Jeffrey R. Caponigro
Karen L. Cedzo
Dr. Barbara J. DeSanto
Ofield Dukes*
Salvatore J. Giammo
John E. Guiniven
Louise L. Hayman
Ralph T. Kam
Aileen Katcher
Leslie Lamkin
Luis W. Morales
Eric M. Morgenstern
Robert J. O’Gara
Joseph P. Rowson*
Robert A. Schenkein
Robert Stack
J. Donald Turk
Linda P. Walton
Charles A. Wood
Karen F. Buchsbaum
Roger D. Buehrer
Gigi de Mier*
R. John DeSanto
Thomas E. Eppes
Vivian M. Hamilton
Charles W. Kenworthey*
Debra A. Miller
Robin B. Perrin*
Cheryl Procter-Rogers
Rhoda Weiss
Philip C. Wescott*
Diane Witmer
Don Bates
Edward M. Block
Carol A. Bodensteiner
Robert D. Frause
T. Michael Jackson
Steven L. Lubetkin
John E. Milkereit
John Paluszek
Scott Shirai
Posie Lee Starkey*
Judy O. Williams
W. Randolph Baker
Dr. Michael E. Bishop
Gerald E. Buldak
Gerard F. Corbett
W. Thomas Duke*
Ellen Weaver Hartman
Mitchell Head
Michael L. Herman*
Lowell F. Ludford
Kenneth Makovsky
Pender M. McCarter
Patrick F. McGee
Edward J. Menninger
Ronald T. Sconyers
Kenneth P. Service
Jana V. Stone
Dr. Donn J. Tilson
Sherry Treco-Jones
Barry Wanger
William Wendling*
John W. Wiater
Laurie J. Wilson
Cathryn Gibbs Harris
Kay Herring*
James G. Lubetkin
Gary A. Myers
Deanna K.W. Pelfrey
Philip G. Ryan
Lynne M. Sallot, Ph.D.
Thomas A. Schick
Frank R. Stansberry
Joseph A. Vecchione, CLU*
Catherine B. Ahles
Sue A. Brush
William R. Cumerford, Ph.D.*
David R. Dunnigan
Richard L. Harmon*
George L. Johnson
Kathleen S. Kelly, Ph.D.*
Dennis B. McGrath*
D. Gayle McNutt
George W. Miraben
Frederick W. Morgan
Bruce Lloyd Olsen
Richard F. Pender, Ph.D.
J.D. Rayburn, II*
Mack D. Secord
Robert K. Sells*
William E. Sledzik
James J. Wallace
Linda H. Walter*
Kathleen Ladd Ward*
Judith Williams
Richard E. Wilmot*
David M. Eisenstadt
David M. Grant
Dr. Kirk E. Hallahan
Thomas A. Harrison
Frances M. Minakowski
Joseph T. Nolan*
Sunshine Janda Overkamp
Cynthia I. Pharr-Lee
Jack Pyle
Richard B. Ridgway
Hugh A. Smith*
Nina Streitfeld
Samuel L. Waltz, Jr.
Anne R. Warner
Harland W. Warner*
Richard K. Arnold*
Thomas A. Bartikoski*
Donald W. Braman*
Donald C. Cannalte*
Louis Capozzi
James M. Caudill
Sandra D. Clary
John R. Cook
Mark Curtis*
Diane G. Davis*
Bob Dorf
James B. Ellis*
Robert W. Hefty*
Rene A. Henry
Theodore Hutchcroft
Joann E. Killeen
David Kirk
Donald M. Levin
Craig T. Miyamoto*
Erik V. Peterson
Judith Turner Phair
Daniel C. Pinger*
Stephen D. Pisinski*
J. Thomas Poling*
Skip Ragland
Nat Read
Neil T. Regan*
Don G. Reichardt
Ewald A. Richter*
Rosalee A. Roberts
William C. Rolle, Jr.
Thomas C. Sanger
Jerome H. Schmelzer
Karl J. Skutski
Jerry L. Sloan*
Ronald D. Solberg
Larry R. Werner*
Neil M. Alperstein, Ph.D.
Rendall P. Ayers*
Lee W. Baker*
Howard M. Blankman
James H. Bradley*
Joan L. Capelin
John J. Daly, Jr.*
J.B. Dixson
Raymond B. Durazo
Donald P. Durocher*
Joe S. Epley*
Mountfort A. Euston
William Robert Faith, Ph.D.
Paul Fullmer*
Felton H. Gordon*
Carole M. Gorney
R. Danner Graves*
Jack J. Heeger*
Sandra M. Hermanoff
Richard E. Hodges, Jr.*
Patricia E. Howlett*
Ned S. Hubbell*
Frances A. Hunter
Gwinavere A. Johnston*
L. James Lovejoy*
James E. Lukaszewski
Reynold W. Malmer
Elizabeth M. Martin
James T. Maunders
Broun H. Mayall*
John P. McGill
Arthur P. Merrick
Nann S. Miller
Wesley M. Pattillo*
A. Bruce Pozzi
Diane B. Pucko
Claude Ramsey
Ronald E. Rhody
Jay Rockey*
A. Lee Rogers*
James J. Roop*
Rolf C. Rudestam
Carl H. Schrank
Steven V. Seekins
Art Stevens
Thomas K. Stewart*
David C. Swanston*
David J. Therkelsen
Park M. Trammell, Jr.
Patricia A. Trubow
Stanley L. Ulchaker*
John David Williams*
Frederick A. Woodress*
Charles H. Zeanah*
William C. Adams*
B. Richard Berg, Ph.D.
Ferne G. Bonomi, ASPR
Adri G. Boudewyn
A. Brown-Olmstead
Alvin R. Busse
John P. (Jack) Casey*
R.G. Charlton, ABC
Yung-Kai Chung
Richard Jay Coyle
Aaron D. Cushman*
H.J. (Jerry) Dalton, Jr.*
Clifford Dektar*
William M. Dietrick
Paul A. Dowd
M. Robert Ferber
Robert H. Gardner*
Harriet C. Gonzalez
Edward Gottlieb*
John L. Gregory
Charlene H. Hillman*
Carol L. Hills, APR*
P.H. Hollister, CPRC
E. Roxie Howlett
Ruth B. Kassewitz
Elaine Falk Katz, Ed.D.*
William J. Koch
Patricia W. Leslie, Ph.D.
Kathleen Larey Lewton
Warren A. Logelin*
Frank X. Long*
Gerald Lundy*
Bruce G. MacDonald
Gordon D. MacKay, CLU*
Gene G. McCoy*
James E. McKee, Jr.*
Robert L. Mead
Eugene Miller
James M. Montgomery
Richard M. Newman
Wallace Nicoll*
Wellington F. Osterloh*
Jeannette E. Paladino
Pat Penney*
Mary Ann Pires
Patrick A. Pollino
Sammie Lynn Puett*
John M. Reed*
David R. Richards*
Maria P. Russell
John E. Sattler*
Stan Sauerhaft*
Charles A. Stengstock, Jr.
David H. Simon
E. Brent Snodgrass*
William A. Spencer
Douglas P. Starr, Ph.D.
Robert G. Strayton
M. Lane Talburt
Richard J. Toth, ABC
Richard R. Tyler
F.E. Valverde, ABC*
Gabriel Werba*
C.R. Werle
Ed Wheeler*
D. Christopher Whittle
Ernest Wittenberg
Roger Yarrington, Ph.D.*
Dale O. Zabriskie
James Walter Anderson*
James E. Arnold
Howard K. Back
Daniel H. Baer
Theodore Baron
Bill L. Baxter*
George L. Beiswinger*
David M. Bicofsky
Sue Bohle
Celia C. Boswell*
E.W. Brody, Ed.D.*
Jerry L. Bryan, ABC, CBC
Bruce Butterfield, CAE
Frederick A. Chapman*
Richard G. Claeys
J. Kenneth Clark*
William R. DeLay*
David R. Drobis
Alice M. Dykeman*
David Ferguson*
Winston C. Fournier*
John H. Francis, Ph.D.
Anthony J. Fulginiti
Thomas L. Harris
E. Bruce Harrison*
Everett A. Hayes*
Anna Sceia Klein
Mitchell Kozikowski
Herbert M. Kraus*
Stephen R. Lawrence
Frederick E. Leuschner
Diane Levin
Amelia Lobsenz*
Theodore Lustig, ABC
Terence A. McCarthy*
E. Zoe McCathrin*
P. Michael McDermott
David A. Meeker*
Hank Moore
J. Maestre Morata
Greta W. Murphy, Ph.D.*
Norman R. Nager, Ph.D.
Isobel Parke*
Morris V. Rosenbloom*
G. Robert Ruff
Leonard M. Schodowski
Jean Way Schoonover*
Alan Scott, Ph.D.
Joel A. Strasser
Gordon B. Strayer*
Graham Sudbury
Dolores M. Swift*
Frederick C. Teahan, Ph.D.*
Richard H. Truitt
Judy Van Slyke Turk, Ph.D.*
H. Brian Wilson
William F. Zorzi*
Paul H. Alvarez
Joseph F. Awad*
Stephen H. Baer
Herbert B. Bain*
Ann H. Barkelew
Jeanne Viner Bell*
Phyllis H. Berlowe*
Robert Kingdon Berry*
Judith S. Bogart
George C. Brown
John M. Butler, Ph.D.
George F. Caulfield
William J. Corbett*
F. David Cotten
Wilson Cronenwett*
Scott M. Cutlip*
Stafford G. Davis*
William E. Duke
Daniel J. Edelman*
Marcelle W. Farrington*
John W. Felton*
Paul S. Forbes
John D. Graham
Barbara W. Hunter
D.A. Kruckeberg, Ph.D.
Frank T. Le Bart*
Otto Lerbinger
James A. Little
William M. Michelet
Douglas A. Newsom, Ph.D.*
Lawrence W. Nolte*
Thomas L. Preston
Michael Radock*
Ed Reed*
Jack M. Reed*
James J. Richard*
Irving I. Rimer*
William J. Roach*
Joseph Roos
J. Kenneth Sanford
Parry D. Sorensen*
Robert E. Steele*
James B. Strenski*
Dwayne Summar
Charles W. Tisdall*
James L. Tolley
Walter J. Walsh*
Philip J. Webster
Richard Weiner*
Paul M. Werth*
C. Thomas Wilck*
Dennis L. Wilcox, Ph.D.
Robert B. Wolcott, Jr.*
Nancy B. Wolfe
Donald K. Wright, Ph.D.
Davis Young
Leone Baxter*
Dr. Edward L. Bernays*
John F. Budd, Jr.*
Chester Burger*
Harold Burson*
Allen H. Center, Ph.D.*
W. Howard Chase*
Kalman B. Druck*
Dan J. Forrestal*
Lawrence G. Foster*
James F. Fox*
Ralph E. Frede*
Denny Griswold*
George Hammond*
Rex F. Harlow, Ph.D.*
Carl F. Hawver, Ph.D.*
Patrick Jackson*
Lee K. Jaffe*
Philip Lesly*
Ed Lipscomb*
Donald B. McCammond*
Hale Nelson*
Betsy Ann Plank*
J. Handly Wright*
Frank W. Wylie*
Kenneth Youel*
Short panes should extend past all tabs
Chair
Philip Poole, APR, Fellow PRSA
Chair-elect
Ronele M. Dotson, APR, Fellow PRSA
Vice Chair
Kelly Davis, APR, Fellow PRSA
Secretary-Treasurer
Ellen Crane, APR, Fellow PRSA
Diversity, Equity
& Inclusion Officer
Ana Toro, APR, Fellow PRSA
Immediate Past Chair
J.W. Arnold, APR, Fellow PRSA
Kelly Gaggin, APR, Fellow PRSA
Christian Patterson, APR+M, Fellow PRSA
Brandon Wilson, APR, Fellow PRSA
Fellows Chats
Janet Kacskos, APR, Fellow PRSA
Jo Ann LeSage Nelson, APR, Fellow PRSA
Fundraising
Elyse Hammett, APR, Fellow PRSA
GoodFellows
Andrew Corner, APR, Fellow PRSA
Jamie Floer, APR, Fellow PRSA
Kevin Waetke, APR, Fellow PRSA
Honors and Awards
Kathy Barbour, APR, Fellow PRSA
Philip Tate, APR, Fellow PRSA
Judy DeRango Wicks, APR, Fellow PRSA
Mentoring
Brook DeWalt, APR+M, Fellow PRSA
Renea Morris, APR, Fellow PRSA
Gail Rymer, APR, Fellow PRSA
Professional Development
Joyce Lofstrom, APR, Fellow PRSA
Margaret Ritsch, APR, Fellow PRSA
Strategic Communication
Wendy Kurtz, APR, Fellow PRSA
Dianne Danowski Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA
Social Media
Mark Mohammadpour, APR, Fellow PRSA
Susan Pollard, APR, Fellow PRSA
Strategic Planning
Greg Bailey, APR, Fellow PRSA
Jenny Barker, APR, Fellow PRSA
Debra Peterson, APR, Fellow PRSA
Newsletter editor (ex officio)
Kirk Hazlett, APR, Fellow PRSA
Historian (ex officio)
Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA
PRSA National Board Liaison
Janelle Guthrie, APR, Fellow PRSA
2023 – J.W. Arnold, APR, Fellow PRSA
2022 – Margaret Ann Hennen, APR, Fellow PRSA
2021 – Greg Bailey, APR, Fellow PRSA
2020 – Barbara Kerr, APR, Fellow PRSA
2019 – Geri A. Evans, APR, Fellow PRSA
2018 – Deborah Radman, APR, Fellow PRSA
2017 – Julie B. Fix, APR, Fellow PRSA
2016 – Philip Tate, APR, Fellow PRSA
2015 – Steven Seekins, APR, Fellow PRSA
2014 – Anthony D’Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA
2013 – Maria P. Russell, APR, Fellow PRSA
2012 – Mary Deming Barber, APR, Fellow PRSA
2011 – Frederick Bagg, APR, Fellow PRSA
2010 – Judith T. Phair, APR, Fellow PRSA
2009 – Michael L. Herman, S.A.G.E, APR, Fellow PRSA*
2008 – Bob Frause, APR, Fellow PRSA
2007 – Debra A. Miller, Ed.D, APR, Fellow PRSA
2006 – Scott Shirai, APR, Fellow PRSA
2005 – Vivian Hamilton, APR, Fellow PRSA
2004 – Joe S. Epley, APR, Fellow PRSA*
2002 – Pender M. McCarter, APR, Fellow PRSA
2001 – Rene A. Henry, APR, Fellow PRSA
2000 – David A. Meeker, APR, Fellow PRSA*
1999 – Joan L. Capelin, APR, Fellow PRSA
1998 – David H. Simon, APR, Fellow PRSA
1997 – Judy VanSlyke Turk, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA*
1996 – Richard G. Claeys, APR, Fellow PRSA
1995 – Sue Bohle, APR, Fellow PRSA
1994 – James Strenski, APR, Fellow PRSA*
1993 – Ann Barkelew, APR, Fellow PRSA
1992 – Douglas Ann Newsom, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA*
1991 – Joseph F. Awad, APR, Fellow PRSA*
1990 – Chester Burger, APR, Fellow PRSA*
*Indicates the chair is deceased
Induction into PRSA’s College of Fellows is an honor, but the College is not an honorary organization. Rather, it is a group of individuals who are thought leaders and actively engaged practicing professionals who have a distinct impact on our profession. Fellows are involved in the Society and in representing the College and the profession in a myriad of other public relations activities and organizations. It is difficult to find a PRSA committee, chapter, district or section, or other PR-related organization or board that does not include actively engaged Fellows in leadership roles.
When I first became involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America many decades ago, the College of Fellows did not exist. I had no way of knowing then where my professional journey would lead, but I did know that PRSA would be an important part. It has led me through chapter leadership, national service, accreditation and ultimately to application for and induction into the College of Fellows. Along that journey, there have been countless mentors and professional colleagues who have taught, inspired, and encouraged me. I am grateful for that influence on my life and career, and I strive to continue paying it forward. That is part of being a PRSA Fellow.
It has been said that mentoring is “a hallmark of the College of Fellows.” While that continues to be a primary focus of the College, we are about so much more. We embrace and encourage change, but we also continue to honor the principles on which the College was founded in 1989. We lead with passion and commitment to making the world a better place through our profession and inspiring others to do the same.
Let’s all continue to “aspire higher.”
Philip Poole, APR, Fellow PRSA
2024 College of Fellows Chair
Sage Award for Mentoring
Do you know of someone in the PRSA College of Fellows who has mentored and guided individuals or groups to aspire higher and advance their careers?
Did this Fellow provide guidance and wisdom that had a measurable outcome or significant, life-changing impact on mentees?
Does this Fellow consistently rise above and beyond in the development of future industry leaders, new pros and PRSSA members?
Please consider recognizing their commitment to serve with a Sage Award for Mentoring nomination.
Becoming an Officer of the College of Fellows
The College of Fellows is now accepting online applications for the positions of chair-elect, vice chair, and secretary-treasurer for 2025. All applicants – including those who are serving or have previously served as Officers – are considered as new candidates.
Serving in each of those positions provides unique opportunities to learn about and lead signature College programs. Those experiences are invaluable
for those who ultimately serve as chair of the College.
College of the Fellows officers are elected by the membership to serve one-year terms beginning January 1, with the exception of the Chair-Elect, who moves on to serve as Chair
and then as Immediate Past Chair.
Online applications
for 2024 officers – including a signed "Willingness to Serve" form and letters of support – must be submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, July 1, 2024.
Are you ready to lead our community of extraordinary
leaders?
To be considered for admission to the College of Fellows, PRSA members must meet a stringent list of qualifications and complete the application process by the applicable deadlines. Applications are reviewed by the Fellows Selection Committee, which recommends new Fellows to the PRSA National Board of Directors for approval.
Our 2024 webinar - College of Fellows: How to Apply – will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 12 PM Eastern. GoodFellows Co-Chairs Andy Corner, APR, Fellow PRSA, Jamie Floer, APR, Fellow PRSA and Kevin Waetke, APR, Fellow PRSA, will review admission requirements, discuss the application process, share helpful tips and suggestions, and answer questions. Participants will learn about GoodFellows, a free, confidential coaching program for applicants provided by specially trained volunteer members of the College of Fellows.
Membership Criteria
- Current PRSA membership
- Minimum of 240 months public relations and communication experience
- Current accreditation in Public Relations (APR)
- Demonstrated superior professional performance in the practice/teaching of public relations
- Advanced the profession
- Contributed to the profession or the community through service and leadership
- Served as a role model in the profession and the community
In addition, you must provide six letters of support with your application.
How to Apply
Application Materials:
Download the 2024 Fellows Application Prep Guide
Download Experience Calculator
Application Schedule:
- All applications and letters are due by 5 p.m. (EDT), May 1, 2024.
- Selection Committee meets to discuss applications in late June.
- Recommendations are submitted during the July meeting of the PRSA board.
- Applicants are then notified of their status by the first week of August.
- New inductees are inducted into the College during the PRSA International Conference.
GoodFellows are members of the College who help candidates with the application process. Request a GoodFellow if you are considering starting the application process. Deadline to request a GoodFellow is Feb. 1, 2024 at 11:59 pm Eastern.
College of Fellows 2023 Induction Ceremony
