Joseph Abreu, APR, to Serve as PRSA's 2023 Chair-elect
January 2023
PRSA announced the individuals elected to its 2023 Board of Directors.
The delegates of the 2022 Leadership Assembly elected Joseph Abreu, APR, as chair-elect and eight members to serve in officer and director positions beginning on Jan. 1.
“The 2023 Board of Directors will bring a unique level of leadership experience, financial acumen and governance excellence to the organization,” said T. Garland Stansell, APR, chair of the 2022 Nominating Committee. “The Nominating Committee and the Board did excellent work in bringing forward these candidates, conducting an extensive review of their credentials and engaging in thoughtful discussions about the needs of the organization to ensure our continued growth.”
Michelle Egan, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2023 PRSA Chair, added, “I am looking forward to working with this team to build on our past success and continue our innovative track record of serving the communications profession and professional.”
• Chair-elect: Joseph Abreu, APR
• Treasurer: Sam Sims, APR, Fellow PRSA
• Secretary: Heide Harrell, APR
Directors (two-year term):
• East Central District: Monica Ackerson, CAE, APR
• Mid-Atlantic District: Cayce Myers, Esq., APR
• Northeast District: Joshua Poupore, APR
• Western District: Teresa Valerio Parrot, APR
• Director At-Large (converted Tri-State District Director): Andrea Gils Monzón
• Director At-Large: Thomas Bennett
A new director for the Southwest District
Heide Harrell’s election to secretary created a vacancy for the Southwest District director position. In accordance with the PRSA Bylaws, the Board filled the vacancy for the remaining year of her term with Patricia Alvarenga Smith, APR, vice president of corporate communications for Republic National Distributing Company.PRSSA to Launch New Chapter at the University of Missouri
PRSSA is establishing a new Chapter at the University of Missouri in the Missouri School of Journalism.
The Chapter will launch with more than two dozen students interested in studying public relations and strategic communications and be advised by PRSA members and School of Journalism faculty members Luke Capizzo, Ph.D., APR, and Jon Stemmle.
PRSA’s St. Louis Chapter and PRSA Board member Jacqueline Clark, APR, Fellow PRSA, who will serve as a professional adviser, will support the new Chapter.
Within the School of Journalism, students can emphasize strategic communication. The curriculum includes focused study and hands-on experience, known as the Missouri Method, within various subject areas and specializations. Course offerings include PR writing, research and strategy and implementation, and a capstone experience with real-world clients.
With the addition of the University of Missouri, PRSSA will operate nine Chapters in the state.
PRSSA is represented globally on nearly 380 campuses, including in the United States, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico.
PRSA’s D&I Committee Changes Name
PRSA has changed the name of its Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Committee to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee.
The DE&I Committee comprises volunteer members from a cross-section of PRSA Chapters, Districts and Professional Interest Sections. Their recent achievements include launching the Diverse Dialogues webinar series, adopting a unified statement on D&I, presenting unconscious bias education, and creating Affinity Groups for Black and Hispanic-Latino voices.
PRSA Day: Celebrating the Power of Influence for 75 Years
PRSA Day 2023: Take a short break from your workday, or wrap up your day on Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. ET with a toast to PRSA. Join us as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of PRSA across the entire PRSA community.
Hear from your 2023 Immediate Past Chair on the recent year-long celebration culminating in PRSA Day and from the 2023 Chair, Michelle Egan on the future vision for PRSA as we define the next 75 years. Join your peers, PRSA members and volunteers, students, and educators and get connected to the celebration.
Register here.
