The PRSA Foundation said it will establish an endowed scholarship fund in the name of Ofield Dukes, the pioneering PR pro who died Dec. 7 at 79.
Dukes was an honorary trustee of the independent foundation, which is funding the scholarship with founding donor Prudential Financial. Bob DeFillippo, chief communications officer of Prudential, is a Foundation board member.
Foundation president Debbie Mason said Dukes was one of the “giants of our profession” who counseled thousands of students and professionals.
“He enriched the lives of so many people, including members of the Prudential Global Communications team,” said DeFillippo.
Dukes, a former Johnson administration aide, ran his PR firm for 42 years and taught PR at Howard and American Universities.