PRSA Celebrates the Profession’s Standout Leaders at ICON 2026 in Orlando, Oct. 17–20
Sep. 17, 2026
NEW YORK — Sept. 17, 2026 — PRSA, the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community, today announced the recipients of its 2026 PRSA Individual Awards, celebrating outstanding communicators who have made exemplary contributions to the public relations profession, academia, and society.
The six honorees will be officially recognized during PRSA’s annual conference, ICON 2026, the largest gathering of communications professionals, taking place from Oct. 17–20 in Orlando, Fla.
"The 2026 award recipients embody the very best of our profession," said PRSA CEO Matthew Marcial, CAE, APR. "Through groundbreaking professional practice, foundational research, tireless mentorship, and a fierce commitment to diversity and ethics, these leaders have significantly elevated the impact and reputation of strategic communications. We are proud to celebrate their lasting legacies at ICON this year."
The 2026 honorees include:
- Gold Anvil Award: Anthony W. D’Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA, Professor of Practice, Public Relations Department Chair and Director of Executive Education at the Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University (Syracuse, N.Y.). The Gold Anvil is PRSA’s highest individual honor, recognizing lifetime achievement and exceptional leadership.
- Outstanding Educator Award: Gemma R. Puglisi, Assistant Professor at American University (Washington, D.C.). This award recognizes a full-time college or university faculty member who has made a significant contribution to public relations education and student advancement.
- Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA: Geri A. Evans, APR, Fellow PRSA, Owner of Evans PR Group (Longwood, Fla.). This award is named in honor of the late Patrick Jackson, APR, Fellow PRSA. It recognizes a PRSA member who has significantly advanced PRSA at all levels of the Society and inspired fellow public relations practitioners, professionally and personally, through leadership, mentorship and sustained excellence throughout their career.
- The John L. Paluszek Atlas Award for Public Relations Achievement Worldwide: Dennis L. Wilcox, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, Professor Emeritus at San Jose State University (Davis, Calif.). This award honors a practitioner who has made extraordinary contributions to the practice of public relations on a global scale.
- D. Parke Gibson Award: Thomas Bennett III, Senior Vice President, Global Growth at FleishmanHillard (Dallas, TX). PRSA’s highest individual award presented to a professional who has contributed to increased awareness of the PR and communications profession among diverse communities.
- Public Relations Professional of the Year: Davis Richardson, President of Paradox Public Relations (New York). Richardson leads strategic communications programs spanning Allied communications, emerging technology, and public diplomacy, with a focus on strengthening trust and engagement between institutions, industry, and the public.
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
linda.beltran@prsa.org
