BUFFALO - The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)'s Board of Directors has approved the recommendation of Buffalo's Deborah A. Silverman, PhD, APR, PRSA for admittance to the organization's prestigious College of Fellows.
The College of Fellows, founded in 1989, is a community of more than 300 senior PRSA members who are judged to have advanced the public relations profession. Admission is open to public relations practitioners or educators who have at least 20 years' experience, are Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and have demonstrated exceptional capability and accomplishment in the practice or teaching of public relations. College of Fellows members also must exhibit personal and professional qualities that make them role models for other practitioners or educators.
A selection committee consisting of 15 current College of Fellow members oversees the nomination of new Fellows by soliciting and reviewing applications and recommending a slate of candidates to the Board of Directors.
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Deborah A. Silverman, PhD, APR Fellow PRSA
Silverman, along with 14 other new Fellows, will be inducted into the College at a special dinner to be held Oct. 13, during the PRSA 2012 International Conference in San Francisco, Calif.
"Induction into the PRSA College of Fellows is one of the highest honors bestowed by PRSA and a hallmark of individual achievement and excellence," PRSA 2012 Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Gerard F. Corbett, APR, Fellow PRSA, said. "Deborah has distinguished herself through continued service and contributions to the profession and, in the process, set a terrific example for others to follow."
The purpose of the College of Fellows is to recognize distinguished public relations leaders and to further the professionalism and reputation of public relations practice and education. College members provide mentoring for other public relations professionals; support PRSA in the execution of its Strategic Plan, especially in the areas of advocacy and education; and create and sponsor a continuing education "Master Class" each year during the PRSA International Conference.
"We're proud to welcome Deborah into the PRSA College of Fellows," the College's 2012 Chair, Mary Deming Barber, APR, Fellow PRSA, said. "Through her past achievements and future accomplishments, she is leaving an indelible mark on her profession, organization, community and PRSA."
Silverman has over 20 years of experience as a public relations practitioner for colleges, schools and nonprofit associations in Western New York and 10 years as a public relations educator. She currently serves as an associate professor of communication at Buffalo State College, where she is the associate chair of the Communication Department. Silverman is the faculty advisor to the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter at Buffalo State. She is chair of the PRSA Board of Ethics and Professional Standards and a member of the national Commission on Public Relations Education.
Silverman was one of seven members on PRSA's "PR Defined" Task Force earlier this year, which created a new definition of "public relations" for the industry in collaboration with 12 other major PR organizations in the United States. She also served two years on the National Board of PRSA as a director at large.
Her PR classes are service learning courses in which students apply concepts learned in the classroom to local nonprofit organizations. She also frequently presents workshops on PR ethics to public relations students and practitioners at regional and national conferences.
A native of Dunkirk, Silverman earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at SUNY Fredonia and her Ph.D. degree at the University at Buffalo.
About PRSA
PRSA is the largest professional organization serving the U.S. public relations community. With a mission to "advance the profession and the professional," PRSA provides news and information, thought leadership, continuing education and networking opportunities; sets standards of professional excellence and ethical conduct; and advocates for the business value of public relations and greater diversity among public relations professionals. Based in New York, PRSA comprises 112 local Chapters; 14 Professional Interest Sections that focus on specific industries and practice areas; and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which is active at more than 320 colleges and universities.
