The Institute for Public Relations and PRSA Educators Academy are co-hosting a monthly discussion for educators focused on race in the PR classroom. The series will address the current state of PR education—from understanding the pervasive issues of race in higher education, to learning the best practices, strategies, and tools for addressing race in the PR classroom, and looking long term, regarding how to create systemic change, particularly creating a more diverse PR faculty and more diverse pipelines of practitioners.
The focus of this series is to Listen—Learn—Create Action for Change. The goal is to identify action steps that PR faculty can take to better embed race in the PR curriculum and help students. Professors will lead these three open forums. We hope this will be a safe space for an open discussion and sharing with a chance to interact with one another. Sessions will be available for playback.
Upcoming Webinar: 
Register Here!
Previous Webinars
Session 7: Professionals Teaching in the Classroom | November 19, 2020
Featuring:
-
Erica Southerland, Ph.D., APR, Lecturer, Georgetown University & Director of Communications, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
-
Gineen Cargo, Wells Fargo Endowed Chair & Adjunct PR Professor, North Carolina Central University & Founder, Cargo & Co.
-
Vanessa Copeland, M.S., Adjunct Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University & Public Information Officer, Virginia Dept of Fire Programs
-
Vanessa Wakeman, Founder & CEO, The Wakeman Agency
Special Edition: Race in the PR Classroom | October 22
All Together Now: Teaching Effective Diversity & Inclusion Principles and Strategies
Diversity GIFTs Shared Via Virtual Roundtables/Poster Session
Resources Shared:
- Dr. Melissa Dodd and Dr. LaShonda Eaddy: Dodd & Eaddy MUTA – IPR & PRSA EA 2020
- Dr. Candace Parrish: How to host an Instagram chat: https://texturedeight.com/2019/07/25/instagram-chats-one-of-the-most-undervalued-social-media-tools/
- More on IG Chats in the PR classroom: https://edservices.wiley.com/instagram-online-discussion-community-engagement-higher-education/
- Dr. Adrienne Wallace Diversity and Inclusion resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1M79-bOS1r-WYrUJzukOz7ou6B4d-Jxd4
Session 6: Confronting Bias in the Classroom | September 17
Featuring:
-
Monique Farmer, APR, Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Nebraska
-
Minjeong Kang, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Relations, Indiana University
-
Nilanjana Bardhan, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Studies, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Resource Shared in Session 4: Session 6: Confronting Bias in the Classroom
Session 5: The Student Experience | August 20
Featuring:
-
Haniya Shariff, VP of Diversity and Inclusion, PRSSA; Intern, Sisu Global; and Temple University Alumni
-
Tamarra Thal, Communications Assistant, Diversity Action Alliance; Corporate Intern, BCW Global, and University of Florida Alumni
-
Aly Brandon, PR & Digital Media Associate, Wundher and University of Memphis Student
Session 4: The HBCU Experience | July 23
Featuring:
- Candace Parrish, Ph.D., Director & Assistant Professor, Sacred Heart (Conn.) Strategic Communication & Public Relations Master’s Program Online
- Tia Tyree, Ph.D., Professor & Interim Associate Dean, Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Howard University
- Calvin Hall, Ph.D., Department Chair & Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communication, North Carolina Central University
Resource Shared in Session 4: HBCU Experience – The Book: A Collection of Essays Celebrating the Black College Experience by Dr. Tia Tyree
Session 3: Diversifying PR Faculty | June 25
Featuring:
- Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR, Dean and Professor, School of Communications, Elon University
- Damion Waymer, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair of Advertising and Public Relations, The University of Alabama
- Bey-Ling Sha, Ph.D., APR, Professor and Dean, College of Communications
California State University, Fullerton
Resources Shared in Session 3 (PDF): IPR RITC Session 3 Resources
Session 2: Best Practices, Strategies, and Tools | June 18
Featuring:
-Stephanie Mahin, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Management & Corporate Communication, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
-Nneka Logan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Virginia Tech University
-Natalie Asorey, Lecturer, Public Relations & Social Media, University of Florida
Resources Shared in Session 2 (PDF): Resource List – IPR RITC 2
Session 1: Pervasive Issues in PR Education | June 11
Featuring:
– David Brown, Diversity Advisor to the Office of the Dean, Temple University
– Neil Foote, President & CEO, Foote Communications, & President, National Black PR Society
– Natalie T. J. Tindall, Ph.D., Department Chair, Associate Professor, Lamar University
