The Visiting Industry Professional (VIP) Fellowship initiative infuses the College of Communication's Public Relations and Advertising (PRAD) graduate program with current and new communication insights to meet the fast-paced challenges associated with industry trends. The initiative focuses on career advancement, industry engagement, and curriculum enhancement in order to strengthen the PRAD program's market responsiveness while building industry-led partnerships that create opportunities for ongoing engagement and collaboration. Reserved for C-suite caliber PR and advertising professionals, the VIP Fellowship is specifically designed to engage industry leaders with a strong history of benevolent endeavors and a sense of purpose grounded in shaping tomorrow's leaders.
For more information or to express interest in becoming a VIP Fellow, please contact:
2023-2024 VIP Fellows
Scott Farrell's role at DePaul follows a 45-year public relations career in both agency and corporate settings. Most recently, Scott was Global President, Corporate Communications for Golin. There, he led many of the firm's most prominent corporate communications engagements. Over the course of his career, much of Scott's work took place in the international arena, having implemented or directed campaigns in more than 30 countries around the world. He also is a leading expert in the area of crisis communications and issues management and was named by PRWeek as a “crunch-time counselor" – one of the industry's top people who should be on speed dial when crisis strikes. Among the companies Scott has worked with are ADP, Capital Group, Chobani, Discover Financial Services, Dole Foods, GlaxoSmithKline, Humana, Hyatt Hotels, John Hancock Life Insurance, McDonald's, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Micron, Nestle, Texas Instruments, The Dow Chemical Company, and Walmart. Scott is often quoted in articles on crisis management, has published articles in public relations and legal journals, and is a contributor to textbooks on the subject. He teaches Crisis Communication Management
for the PRAD graduate program.
Tonise Paul brings four decades of advertising industry and brand building expertise to the role. She was President & CEO of Energy BBDO for 24 years. She is a visionary leader who led the development of the agency from a small locally focused agency through its rebranding, its creative renaissance and into the exceptional shop it is today: an award-winning, global lead agency and innovative national powerhouse that energizes people and brands. The hallmark of Tonise's leadership is the building of an extraordinary agency culture – of positivity, intentionality, diversity, integrity, and mutual care and support. She pioneered an "Energy Exchange" for BBDO Worldwide for people to swap jobs in different countries to unlock their potential and the power of the network. Energy in name, culture and performance, the agency has been recognized time and again for the effectiveness of their brand building work (WARC and Effie) for iconic brands across categories from Extra gum to Lay's potato chips to Bayer aspirin to the Incredible Egg to Jack Daniel's. Tonise's career recognitions include “Advertising Woman of the Year" by the Chicago Advertising Federation, one of the 30 most powerful women in advertising by Business Insider, “Who's Who in Chicago Business" by Crain's Chicago Business, and Illini of the Year by the Chancellor of the University of Illinois.
Lewis Williams is EVP, Head of Brand Impact at legendary PR Agency Weber Shandwick. Having over 3 decades of Total Market and Multicultural consumer marketing experience, he’s partnered with CMO’s of some of the world’s best-known brands to create award-winning creative and drive strategic and emotional connections to their customers. He has worked at iconic agencies Leo Burnett and Burrell Communications where he gathered deep brand experience in automotive, food service, beverage, technology, financial, entertainment and consumer goods. Among those that he has represented are Toyota, McDonald’s, The Coca-Cola Company, Google, Walt Disney World, American Airlines, Disney and Procter and Gamble. Lewis has been recognized as one of Adweek’s Creative 100, The Ad Club of New York’s Icons, Rock Stars and Innovators, winner of creative accolades from The One Show, Communications Arts, Kelly Awards, New York Festivals, Clio Awards and serves on the Creative Review Committee for The Ad Council. He previous served as a PR Cannes Juror and is a juror member of Cannes Lions 70. Glass: The Lion for Change. Lewis is an advocate for significant representation for diversity in creative in the communications industry. As part of his commitment to diversity and mentorship, he is an instructor for The One School for African American students, sponsored by The One Club.