Dr. James M. Owston, associate provost, and professor of mass communication at Alderson Broaddus University (AB) became the ninth educator to be named Dr. Hal Shaver, APR Public Relations Educator of the Year.
The Public Relations Society of America’s West Virginia Chapter (PRSA-WV) bestowed the award at their annual Crystal Award Celebration in Charleston, W.Va., on August 25. It honors “a faculty member’s contribution to the next generation of public relations professionals and why those contributions should be considered the best in the state.” The Educator of the Year Award is open to “Any faculty member teaching public relations or related courses at a West Virginia college or university.”
“Jim has had a direct and lasting impact on our institution, the surrounding community, and most significantly on countless students,” said nominator Dr. Andrea Bucklew, AB provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. “He has also proven himself to be a strong team member at Alderson Broaddus, one who is willing to use his public relations skills in a variety of areas to better serve the University and its community.”
Since 2016, Owston and his students have won a total of 61 public relations awards from the PRSA-WV, PRSA East Central District, and Region Four of the Society of Professional Journalists. Those accolades include regional and statewide “Best in Show” awards, 14 first-place regional Diamond awards, and 30 first-place statewide Crystal awards.
The Public Relations Educator of the Year Award is named for Dr. Harold (Hal) C. Shaver, the Dean of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University, until his death in 2004. Owston is the first recipient of Alderson Broaddus to receive this honor. Previous recipients were from West Virginia State University (4), West Virginia University (2), Marshall University, and Bethany College.
Original source can be found here.
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