Laurie Wilson
Wilson has taught both undergraduate and graduate course at BYU since 1989. She regularly teaches introduction to PR, PR case studies, senior campaigns in PR, senior seminar in communications in undergraduate course work, and teaches world communication systems, communication and development, and communication theory at the graduate level.
Wilson's colleague, David P. Forsyth, saw a pressing need for gender and racial diversity in the Communications Department. Together, Wilson and Forsyth worked to promote the recruiting and hiring of more women, particularly those aiming to obtain their doctorate degree.
In 1997 Wilson became the first female chair of the Department of Communications. This appointment alone was proof of Wilson's public relations expertise. Over the next three years, Wilson continued working on the image of BYU, and focused on recruiting faculty. Ed Adams recalled his experience:
Laurie met with Mike Perkins, Kevin Stoker, Brad Rawlins, and me at AEJMC (Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication) in Baltimore. She talked about the future needs and opportunities at BYU. Mike said he was interested. Kevin said he was unsure, but would be happy to hear of the opportunities. Brad Rawlins and I laughed and said, "No way!" We weren't interested in future opportunities at BYU. Laurie did a lot in cultivating friends for BYU. (Pratte, 39)
All four men eventually joined the faculty (Pratte, 37).
Wilson continues to serve on the commission as a representative of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and has also served on PRSA's strategic planning committee, chaired by the president of the organization. She was chair of the Educator's Academy in 2003 and continues to serve on their executive council. She has served on PRSA's Educational Affairs Committee(1996-1998) and also as co-chair of that committee (2003-2004) and co-chair of PRSA’s Task Force on Education. In 2001 she was named the Outstanding Educator by the national PRSA organization and has been recognized with BYU’s Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award (1997). Wilson was the national PRSSA faculty advisor (1992-1996), and has been faculty adviser to BYU's award-winning Chapter of PRSSA for 10 years.
Wilson has received several other awards and recognitions. In 1990 she was recognized as the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Outstanding Faculty Advisor. Five years later she was inducted into the PRSSA Hall of Fame. She also received BYU’s Karl G. Maeser Teaching Award and three Student Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Awards. In 2010, Wilson received the 2010 Golden Spike Award as the Public Relations Professional of the Year.
Laurie Wilson is also active in ACEJMC's PR division and is a regular participant in ACEJMC site teams for the accreditation of communications programs. She also serves on the Executive Board of the United Wayof Utah County.
Wilson has authored and co-authored several textbooks used in the BYU Communications Department as well as professional and scholarly papers. She has also planned, implemented, and conducted seminars across the country.
Dr. Wilson's LinkedIn profile became one of the top 10% most viewed profiles of 2012, a highly significant accomplishment for someone involved in the Public Relations World.
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References
- Somewhere Between Mount Olympus and Mount Everest, Paul Alfred Pratte, 2003.
