PRSA Announces Selection of 7 New Members of the College of Fellows
Jul. 13, 2026
NEW YORK, July 13, 2026 – PRSA, the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community, announced today seven new members selected to 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 Saturday, Oct. 17, prior to PRSA’s ICON conference, which will be held in Orlando, Fla., this year.
About PRSA
PRSA is the leading professional organization serving the communications community through a network of more than 400 professional and student chapters in the U.S., Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico. Guided by its Code of Ethics, PRSA empowers its members to succeed at every stage of their careers through a wide breadth of premium professional development programs, exclusive networking events and leadership opportunities. Signature events include the Anvil Awards and ICON, the premier annual gathering for communications professionals and students. For more information, visit www.prsa.org.
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Media Contact:
Linda Beltran, APR
