UA Plank Center for Leadership in PR Names New Board Members

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The board of advisors for The University of Alabama’s Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations has added three new members to an existing group of 12.

The new advisors are:

• Keith Burton, president, Insidedge—GolinHarris, a leading public relations firm, and former general manager of GolinHarris’ headquarters in Chicago
• Richard (Rick) Looser, Jr., chief operating officer, The Cirlot Agency in Jackson, Miss., and Outstanding Alumnus in Public Relations, UA
• Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA; director of public relations, Scripps Emerging Networks, and president of the Public Relations Society of America Foundation

“We are delighted that these outstanding public relations experts and leaders have agreed to serve,” said Dr. Bruce Berger, director of the Plank Center and chair of the UA advertising and public relations department. “Their addition complements the leading academics and professionals in public relations already on the board.”

The Center, established in 2005 and named for UA alumna and nationally acclaimed public relations pioneer Betsy Plank, seeks to help develop and recognize outstanding leaders in public relations in the profession and the classroom. It promotes teaching, research and service that further the understanding and practice of ethical and effective public relations.

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

C&IS is among the most prestigious communication colleges in the nation. The College consistently is ranked among the top 10 in number of doctoral degrees awarded and in many of its research programs.