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The Outstanding Educator Award

The Outstanding Educator Award recognizes exceptional contributions to education. Recipient must be a PRSA member in good standing with a minimum of 20 years of experience in public relations who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of public relations education through college or university teaching.

The deadline for nominations is July 19, 2024.

 

Nominate

 

Nomination Procedures

Complete the online nomination form, which will ask for the following information:

  • A two-page summary of the nominee’s qualifications addressing the judging criteria.
  • Three seconding letters addressing the judging criteria to support nominee’s qualifications. One must be from a Chapter President, Section Chair, District Chair, National Task Force Chair, or National Committee Chair. In addition one letter must be from a fellow educator who has used or emulated the nominee’s findings or techniques.
  • The nominee’s professional bio.
  • A list of PRSA activities and awards. Include Chapter, District, and National service and offices held, and awards received.
  • A list of public relations research and writing. Include articles published (if possible, cite publications, dates and links), books published (written or edited, years and titles) and significant research developed.
  • A summary of the nominee’s experience as a public relations practitioner (such as public relation counselor).
  • Synopses of student evaluations: track record of students placed in jobs; examples of innovation in the classroom; support and encouragement of PRSSA.
  • The nominee’s headshot.

 

Judging Criteria
  • Teaching: Demonstrate the nominee’s excellence in teaching based on contemporary, research-based knowledge of public relations, outstanding lectures and casework and the development of teaching aids and methods.
  • Research: Cite examples of the nominee’s research and writing that advance the teaching and practice of public relations.
  • Involvement with students:  Explain how the nominee supports student activities, including counseling, placement assistance and advising groups such as PRSSA.
  • PRSA Activities: List PRSA activities on a Chapter, District, Section and National level in which the nominee has effectively participated and how the Society has been strengthened as a result.
  • Contributions to the profession outside of PRSA:  Show how the nominee has furthered the credibility of PRSA by participating in professional activities outside of the Society.
  • Awards: Note any relevant awards and accomplishments.
  • Although not required, strong consideration will be given to candidates with an APR designation.
Judging Procedures

All entries are reviewed and scored by PRSA’s Honors & Awards Committee according to the judging criteria and then approved by PRSA’s Board of Directors. The winner will be notified in late summer and invited to accept the award at PRSA’s International Conference.

To avoid a conflict of interest, the PRSA Chair is not eligible to receive an individual award during his or her term of office and for two years thereafter. Officers and members of the National PRSA Board of Directors and the National Honors & Awards Committee are not eligible to receive an Individual Award.

Previous Recipients

2024 - Kelly Bruhn, APR
2023 - Alisa Agozzino, Ph.D., APR
2022 - Marlene Neill, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2021 - Dawn M. Doty, APR 
2020 – Susan Gonders, Ed.D.
2019 – Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR
2018 – Katerina Tsetsura, Ph.D.
2017 – Amiso M. George, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2016 – Marcia W. DiStaso, Ph.D., APR
2015 – Lynn Appelbaum, APR, Fellow PRSA
2014 – Julie Henderson, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2013 – Bob “Pritch” Pritchard, APR, Fellow PRSA
2012 – Bey-Ling Sha, Ph.D., APR
2011 – Steve Quigley, APR
2010 – Kirk Hallahan, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2009 – Stephen D. Iseman, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2008 – David M. Dozier, Ph.D.
2007 – Lynne M. Sallot, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2006 – Dr. Bruce K. Berger
2005 – Dr. Rick Fischer, APR, Fellow PRSA
2004 – Kathleen S. Kelly Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2003 – Don Winslow Stacks, Ph.D.
2002 – Clarke L. Caywood, Ph. D.
2001 – Laurie Wilson, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
2000 – William C. Adams, APR, Fellow PRSA
1999 – Carol Gorney, APR, Fellow PRSA, Barbara Bealor Hines, Ph. D.
1998 – Melvin L. Sharpe, Ph. D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1997 – Maria Russell, APR, Fellow PRSA
1996 – Larissa A. Grunig, Ph. D.
1995 – Dean A. Kruckeberg, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1994 – Elizabeth L. Toth, Ph. D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1993 – Donald K. Wright, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1992 – Judy VanSlyke Turk, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1991 – Glen M. Broom, Ph.D.
1990 – Hugh M. Culbertson, Ph.D.
1989 – James E. Grunig, Ph.D.
1988 – William P. Ehling, Ph.D.
1987 – Anthony J. Fulginiti, APR, Fellow PRSA
1986 – Parry D. Sorensen, APR
1985 – Norman R. Nager, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1984 – Dennis L. Wilcox, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1983 – Paul E. Dannelley, APR
1982 – Douglas Ann Newsom, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1981 – Frank E. Walsh, APR, Fellow PRSA
1980 – H. Frazier Moore, Ph.D.
1979 – Kenneth Owler Smith, Ed.D., APR
1978 – Ray E. Hiebert, Ph.D., APR
1977 – Walter E. Griscti, APR
1976 – Albert Walker, Ph.D., APR
1975 – Raymond Simon, APR
1974 – Otto Lerbinger, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1973 – John E. Marston, APR
1972 – Alan Scott, Ed.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
1971 – Walter W. Seifert, APR
1970 – Scott M. Cutlip, APR, Fellow PRSA