Public Communication: Awards and Achievements

Faculty and staff were joined by award sponsors to honor outstanding student work at the 2009 Public Communication division award ceremony.

Prof. Gemma Puglisi has been selected for the second year in a row to present at the 2009 Public Relations Society of America International Conference in San Diego in the Educators Academy poster session. She will present her abstract on the collaboration between her PR Portfolio class and Just Neighbors, a nonprofit that works with immigrants. Puglisi was one of around 15 professors selected from across the country.

The Arthur W. Page Society has selected David Drobis, ’65, as the recipient of its 2008 Hall of Fame Award for his career contributions to the field of public relations.

Prof. Lenny Steinhorn appeared on WTTG-Fox 5 news to talk about former GOP senator Arlen Specter’s party switch. “The minute you get 60 and make it filibuster proof, you can change health care, you can change energy policy, you can put a stimulus bill through, you can put more regulations on the banks,” he said.

The highly acclaimed public relations firm, the MWW Group was just recognized by the PR industry for outstanding public relations achievements. MWW won the PR News Platinum Award for Midsize Agency of the Year. Congratulations to AU alum and MWW Group CEO, Michael Kempner.

Two SOC alumnae have become the newest personality and politics columnists for the Washington Examiner. Nikki Schwab and Tara Palmeri, are taking over one of the newspaper’s signature features: “Yeas & Nays,” a column that covers local D.C. events and inside information on celebrities and politics. The two columnists have taken different paths to their positions; Schwab received her MA in Communication in 2009, and Palmeri graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Public Communication in 2008. Read an interview with Palmeri here.

Prof. Gemma Puglisi recently published a piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education on her experience with a writing course. “Taking Risks in the Classroom” details Puglisi’s encounter with a death row inmate’s story and her students’ effort to raise awareness about the case.