Ron Culp (left) and Don Ingle (right), faculty in DePaul's PRAD program; and Ariella Gibson (center), a DePaul PRAD alumna and current marketing and communications manager for the Chicago Loop Alliance, attended the 2022 PRWeek Awards in March. (Image courtesy of Ron Culp)Earlier this month, DePaul's Public Relations and Advertising program received the PRWeek recognition for
2022 Outstanding Education Program. Considered “the Oscars" of the public relations field, the
PRWeek Awards recognize excellence across corporate, agency, nonprofit and education organizations. The PRAD program made the PRWeek shortlist eight times in the past nine years, winning the best program title in 2018 and, now, 2022.
Other finalists for the Outstanding Education Program Award included Syracuse University, Penn State University, University of Alabama and University of Florida.
“This highly coveted award is an important industry-wide recognition for DePaul's PRAD program, its faculty, students and alumni," says Ron Culp, professional director of the PRAD graduate program. "It also instills a sense of pride in everyone associated with the program, including around 400 industry guest speakers each year who generously donate their time and energy to help us deliver real-world experiences for our students."
PRWeek judges weighed many factors in their decision, including the program's curriculum, high job placement rates and overall connection to the industry. As one judge remarks, DePaul's PRAD program “builds a realistic bridge from classroom to boardroom."
The PRAD program's connection to the professional world is one of its hallmark features.
“The award not only recognizes the innovative curriculum, talented faculty and hardworking students, but also demonstrates the critical intersection of industry and education in preparing future communication professionals and leaders," says Alexandra Murphy, interim dean for the College of Communication.
Jen Himes is the digital content specialist for the College of Communication.