International Faculty Adviser

Gemma Puglisi

Gemma Puglisi is currently an assistant professor at American University in the School of Communication’s Public Communication Division. She is an award-winning media strategist, producer, and public relations expert with over 25 years’ experience. Her career spans working in fields such as broadcast news (“NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw”), NBC Radio, public relations (Edelman and Powell Tate), the financial sector (The Nasdaq Stock Market), and the entertainment industry. She has had works published in the Sage Reference Series, “Gender and Women’s Leadership” Guide; the Journal of Public Relations Education (JPRE); the AEJMC Educator Journal; and opinion pieces in The Chronicle of Higher Education; the Washington Post; the Savannah Morning News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She also wrote for American University’s “Criminal Law Brief” on the work her class did for former death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis. She has presented at numerous conferences including the International Public Relations Research Conference; the PRSA Conference, the AEJMC, and the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement. Her book, “PR Campaigns and Portfolio Building,” published in 2013 by Pearson Education, was one of the first of its kind—to help guide students on how to build the perfect portfolio/campaign. The book was based on her classes. She is a long-time member of the PRSA and in 2017 served as Chair of the PRSA Educators Academy. She is also a member -at-large of the Commission on PR Education. Puglisi serves as the faculty adviser for American University’s PRSSA chapter –a role she has had for twenty years. Under her leadership, her students/chapter have won various awards including “Star Chapter” for ten consecutive years; Outstanding Chapter for Diversity; National Gold Key Awards; the Betsy Plank Award; the John Graham Award; the Ofield Dukes Diversity Award and many others. Her students have co-hosted the PRSSA ICON twice and this fall will mark their third time. In 2006, she was conferred the honor of the “Order of the Star” and knighted by the Republic of Italy for her contributions to education and promoting the Italian language. Puglisi is also a member of the National Press Club’s Broadcast/Podcast Team and she has conducted interviews with Maury Povich, Connie Chung, as well as with newsmakers who have shared their work.  She is also the recipient of several awards including the National Capital Chapter/PRSA Hall of Fame Award; the PRNews Top Women in PR/Mentor; the Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic Award: the Alan G. Penczek Service-Learning Faculty Award; the School of Communication’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Award, “Washington PR Woman of the Year” by the Washington Women in Public Relations; a Vivian Award and a Silver Owl Award from the National Press Club, and an honorable mention for “Communicator of the Year,” from Ragan’s PR Daily Awards. 

Contact Information

puglisi@american.edu