PRSA Announces Selection of 7 New Members of the College of Fellows

PRSA recently announced seven new members selected for the College of Fellows.

Established in 1989, the College of Fellows includes more than 750 professionals and educators who have made a significant impact on the public relations and communications profession. 

“The PRSA College of Fellows is our Society’s highest honor, reserved for public relations professionals whose careers exemplify the highest standards of excellence, leadership and ethics,” said Jessica M. Graham, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2026 College of Fellows Chair. “This year’s inductees represent the very best of our profession, and PRSA is proud to recognize their extraordinary accomplishments and enduring contributions.”

Members of the College of Fellows exemplify excellence in the practice of public relations. They are recognized for advancing the profession, demonstrating leadership and service within their communities, and serving as role models both in their careers and beyond. To be considered, applicants must have at least 20 years of experience in public relations or communications and hold the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential.

The 2026 inductees are:

• Karyn Brown, APR, Fellow PRSA, Assistant Dean of Communication and Media/Instructor II, College of Arts & Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
• Richard “Rich” Donley, APR, Fellow PRSA, Senior Manager, External Affairs, AdventHealth, Winter Garden, Fla.
• Jasmine Hoffman, APR, Fellow PRSA, Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff, Division of Communications and Marketing, Emory University, Milton, Ga.
• Rachel Klein, APR, Fellow PRSA, Director of the Office of Communications, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Elizabeth “Beth” Lamb, APR, Fellow PRSA, Executive Director, Key School and Training Center, Lakeside, Texas
• Julie Smith-Taylor, APR, Fellow PRSA, Creative Strategist, Taylor PR Strategies, Oceanside, Calif.
• Aprill Turner, APR, Fellow PRSA, Executive Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, Higher Heights For America, Hanover, Md.

The College of Fellows Class of 2026 will be inducted at a gala celebration on Oct. 17, prior to PRSA’s ICON, which will be held in Orlando, Fla., this year.

Here Are the Inaugural Women of Impact Award Winners

On Aug. 6, PRSA announced the recipients of its inaugural Women of Impact Awards. 

PRSA recognized the honorees during the PRSA Women of Impact Summit & Awards at the Union League Club of Chicago.

The awards celebrate women whose leadership, innovation and influence are strengthening organizations, advancing the profession and creating opportunities for others. Recipients represent a wide range of career stages and practice areas, reflecting the breadth of leadership across the communications profession.

The ceremony followed a morning Summit focused on leadership and the future of communications. Programming featured Cheryl Procter-Rogers, APR, Fellow PRSA, MCC, presenting “Beyond the Title: Expanding Your Influence, Impact and Legacy,” as well as discussions exploring artificial intelligence, communications in sports and entertainment, and the evolving role of measurement.

“These remarkable professionals demonstrate that leadership is measured not only by what we achieve, but by the people we inspire, mentor and empower,” said PRSA Chair Heide Harrell, MA, APR, who served as the host. 

Visit the PRSA website for the list of winners. We’ll also have more on them in the October issue of Strategies & Tactics.