UA’s Plank Center for Public Relations Studies Names Inaugural Board of Advisors

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– The University of Alabama’s developing Plank Center for Public Relations Studies has named its inaugural Board of Advisors.

“We are delighted that outstanding public relations experts have agreed to serve on the initial Advisory Board,” said Dr. Bruce Berger, director of the Plank Center and chair of the UA advertising and public relations department. “We plan to hold our first meeting later this month, and the Advisory Board will play a crucial role in shaping the Center’s foundation and its future.”

The Board of Advisors are:

• Dr. Culpepper Clark, dean, UA’s College of Communication & Information Sciences
• Ronald Culp, chairman, Citigate Sard Verbinnen; former senior vice president of public relations and government affairs, Sears, Roebuck & Co.
• John Jack Felton, APR, Fellow PRSA; former vice president of public relations, McCormick Spice; president and CEO-Emeritus, Institute for Public Relations
• John Jack Koten, former senior vice president of public relations, Ameritech; board member, Arthur W. Page Center; co-founder and past president of the Arthur W. Page Society
• William Heyman, president and CEO, Heyman Associates; trustee of the Institute for Public Relations
• Dr. Linda Hon, associate professor of public relations, University of Florida; former editor, Journal of Public Relations Research
• Betsy Plank, APR, Fellow PRSA; chair, The Plank Center; former corporate and public relations agency executive and past president, Public Relations Society of America
• Maria P. Russell, APR, Fellow PRSA; professor of public relations and director, New Initiatives in Public Relations Education, Syracuse
• Deborah Shriver, vice president, chief communications officer, The Hearst Corporation; past president, New York Women in Communications
• Andre Taylor, vice president, communications, Alabama Gas Corporation; past president, UA’s National Alumni Association

The center, named for UA alumna and nationally acclaimed public relations pioneer Betsy Plank, is designed to encourage a national dialogue among public relations professionals, educators and students about effective and ethical representation of institutions, organizations, ideas and individuals. It will promote teaching, research and service that further the understanding and practice of public relations.

With nearly 600 students, UA’s public relations program is the largest undergraduate degree program in the College. It has already attained national distinction as the 12th program in the United States to be reviewed and certified by PRSA

The College of Communication & Information Sciences at The University of Alabama is among the most prestigious communication colleges in the nation. C&IS consistently is ranked among the top 10 in number of doctoral degrees awarded and in many of its research programs. C&IS graduates have won four of the six Pulitzer Prizes awarded to UA alumni, and the forensics and debate squad, housed within the College, has garnered 14 national championships.