Internships
FACULTY ADVISORS
FACULTY ADVISORS
PAST SPEAKERS
Frances Blount
Bread & Butter
After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in public relations and experience as the communications director for the Alabama Panhellenic Association, Frances moved to Nashville and spent time as a consultant for a media software company, learning the industry ropes by solving logistical PR issues and evolving press strategies for other practitioners, from 1-man shops to Fortune 500 companies. From that experience, she was drawn to the fast-paced agency life and continued her career in Music City at Marbaloo Marketing, working with entertainment clients like Luke Bryan and Dolly Parton, and lifestyle brands like ORLY Nail Polish. Now, Frances is an Account Director at bread & Butter, a restaurant and hospitality focused agency, leading campaigns for clients ranging from George Strait's tequila company Codigo 1530 to celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan. Her favorite part of PR is developing creative plans & pitch angles and executing buzzworthy partnerships & stunts.
LILIA STOKES
Customer Experience Communications Specialist at The Home Depot
Lilia joined The Home Depot as a customer service representative within the Customer Appointment Center (CAC). While at the Company, she has held multiple roles of responsibility due to her performance. Five months after joining the Company, she accepted the role as supervisor for the CAC, where she focused on coaching, teaching and training associates on how to excel in their careers with The Home Depot.
Lilia earned her bachelor’s degree in mass media arts from Clark Atlanta University and earned her master’s degree from The University of Alabama in public relations and advertising.
JENNIFER HESTER
Account Coordinator at Arketi Group
Jennifer Hester is currently an Account Coordinator at Arketi Group, an integrated digital agency specializing in B2B technology. She specializes in SEO, working in a client-facing role to conduct audits and providing strategic recommendations to clients in various verticals. Previously, she served as a media specialist at KEF Media, a media firm specializing in SMTs and RMTs. She has a passion for analytics and figuring out how to best quantify public relations efforts for clients.
Jennifer is also a proud graduate of The University of Alabama, where she earned her B.A. in Communications.
LINDA BONNIN
Vice President for Strategic Communications at The University of Alabama
Linda Bonnin was named Vice President for Strategic Communications at The University of Alabama. She leads the areas of internal and external communications, media relations, web and social media, graphic design, photography, videography, marketing and brand strategy, as well as University ceremonies. Less than a year after her arrival at Alabama, she created the University’s first branding campaign, Where Legends Are Made. The campaign has won numerous regional and national awards, and has been widely embraced by students, staff, alumni and fans. Previously, Linda served as Vice President for Strategic Communications at LSU and Vice President for Communications and Marketing at the University of Memphis. In addition to her 22 years of experience in higher education, she has worked in the non-profit and private sector, government and news media. She has won 63 awards from professional associations for her creative work, including two Emmy awards.
SCOTT ANGLE
Dean and Director of the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Angle joined the University of Georgia in 2005. He has served as acting Executive Director of the Northeast Research Association, which promotes regional cooperation in agricultural research, and has also been Chair of both the national and Northeast Regional Organizations of Experiment Station Directors. Dr. Angle has been a Fulbright Scholar and is a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America. He received the agronomy society's environmental research award in 1998 and the education award in 2003.
FAITH PEPPERS
Director of Public Affairs and Chief Communications Officer for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Faith Peppers joined the University of Georgia in 1993. She manages strategic communications, issues management, executive reputation management, crisis communication and legislative communication for the college, agricultural experiment stations and Cooperative Extension. She is known across North America for her work in agricultural issues management, impact storytelling and crisis communication.
SARA FRANKLIN
Director of Public Relations at The Lollar Group
Sara Franklin is the director of public relations at The Lollar Group in Birmingham. As a UA alumna, she majored in public relations and communications and was an active member in PRSSA. With a wealth of experience, Sara was a former board member of PRSA and our very own PRSA liaison.
JIMMY HART
Director of Marketing for The University of Alabama
Division of Strategic Communications
Jimmy Hart has served as Director of Marketing for The University of Alabama Division of Strategic Communications since February of 2017. After beginning his career as a newspaper journalist, he transitioned into public relations as Communications Director for an NHRA drag racing team. For the last ten years, he has worked in Marketing & PR for institutions of higher education, primarily focused on analytical reporting and data-driven decision making. Jimmy has a bachelor’s degree in Management with a minor in Marketing from The University of Tulsa. He’s been married to Shanda Hart for seven and a half years and they have a 5-year-old daughter, Harper Hart.
MARK HARRIS
Former Vice President of Communications for
IBM Global Business Services
Mark Harris joined the University's Advertising and Public Relations faculty this fall after concluding a three-decade career with IBM as vice president of Communications for IBM Global Business Services, the $17 billion unit that provides business consulting and applications management services to clients around the world. In that role, Harris led executive support, media relations and communications to a workforce of more than 100,000 across 90 countries. Harris holds BA and MA degrees in journalism from the University of Alabama. He is a member of the Board of Advisors at the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.
SHELLEY SPECTOR
Founder of the Museum of Public Relations
Shelley Spector is one of the leading professionals in the public relations field today. She serves as president of Spector & Associates and the founder and director of the Museum of Public Relations. Shelley has had years of experience by working at Hill & Knowlton, RuderFinn and the American Stock Exchange. Among her many achievements, Shelley has won more than four dozen awards, including the Silver Anvil and Gold SABRE.
JANE DVORAK
PRSA National Chair
Jane Dvorak, APR, Fellow PRSA and PRSA National Chair, is energetic and driven. With nearly 30 years of experience in owning her own integrated communications firm, JKD & Company, Inc. her expertise and passion do not stop short. She has a background in working with nonprofit, technology, healthcare, education and youth initiatives. Dvorak was an active member in PRSSA throughout college and has been a PRSA member for 33 years. She is a recipient of a 2016 and 2011 PRSA Silver Anvil, 2015 and 2010 Small Business Award, awarded the 2012 Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award and the Colorado Chapter 2013 Mentor of the Year.
RYAN WHALEY
Six Foot Five Productions
Ryan is the director and producer of Six Foot Five Productions and the Visual Archivist for Arc Stories. Whaley developed his love for visual storytelling upon graduating at The University of Alabama. Whaley has worked as a director, writer, production manager and editor all on his own and joined the Six Foot Five team in October 2015. Fun fact: Whaley just so happens to be six foot five.
GARLAND STANSELL
Chief Communications Officer at Children's of Alabama
Garland Stansell has been with Children's of Alabama in Birmingham since 1994, serving as Chief Communications Officer. In 2010, Stansell earned his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and has been played an active role on the state and national level with PRSA. Stansell currently serves on the PRSA National Board of Directors.