Tara L. Smith, M.S., APR
Tara L. Smith, M.S., APR, is director of the M.A. in strategic communication program and instructor of public relations for the University of Delaware’s Department of Communication. She teaches and advises public relations undergraduates and strategic communication graduate students. Tara is also founder of Tara Lynn Communications, an independent public relations consultancy. Before joining University of Delaware, Tara lived in New York City and worked in public relations and corporate communication roles at the headquarters of NBCUniversal News Group, Time Warner Inc. and Ketchum, a global public relations firm. Earlier in her career, she lived and worked in Atlanta as a public relations account executive for The Haystack Group, and in the public relations department for the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Outside of work, Tara serves in numerous leadership roles for professional organizations. In 2019, Tara was appointed by Governor John Carney to the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee, the group responsible for selecting inductees and organizing the annual induction ceremony and awards program. As a proud alumna of The Pennsylvania State University, Tara also serves on the Advertising/Public Relations Alumni Network Board of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.
Since 2006, Tara has been active in the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She currently serves as cocChair of PRSA’s national Accreditation Marketing Committee. Tara served as president of the PRSA Delaware chapter from 2022 to 2023 and is now the immediate past president. Additionally, she is an active member of PRSA’s Educators Academy and the Independent Practitioners Alliance. Previously, Tara held national roles on the Educational Affairs Committee, occupied various leadership positions with PRSA Georgia, served on the board of directors for PRSA New York, and participated as a judge for the chapter’s prestigious Big Apple Awards.
Throughout her career, Tara has received recognition through notable industry awards, including the CLIOs, SABREs and the coveted PRSA Silver Anvil Award. She was also selected as PR Week Magazine’s 2006 Student of the Year during her senior year of college. Tara earned her M.S. in public relations and corporate communication from New York University with distinction, and a B.A. in public relations from The Pennsylvania State University. In 2017, she earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). Tara lives in Middletown, Delaware, with her husband and two young children.