 Ron Culp (photo: depaul.edu) |
The Center is named after alumna Betsy Plank, former AT&T executive who was president of the PR Society in 1973. She had spent many years working with the Student wing of the Society and in building ties between academicians and PR people.
Culp succeeds John Koten, retired senior VP of corporate communications for Ameritech who is chairman emeritus of the Center.
Named advisors emeriti for their service to the Center were Jack Felton, president and CEO emeritus, Institute for PR; Linda Hon, Ph.D., senior associate dean, College of Journalism & Communications, University of Florida, and Andre Taylor, retired VP of communications, Alagasco.
Karla Gower, Ph.D., director of the Center, says the board has helped the Center to “grow dramatically” since its founding seven years ago.
The Center was founded to develop and recognize outstanding performance in the PR industry and the classroom. Its goal is to nurture outstanding leaders. An ex-officio member of its board is the president of the Student Society of PRS.
UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences has nearly 600 students in its PR program and is the largest undergraduate degree program in the college.
UA describes itself as a “student-centered research university” and says it is experiencing “significant growth in both enrollment and academic quality.” UA is the state’s flagship university.
Misty Mathews is communications specialist handling PR for the Center. [email protected]
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