{"id":5810,"date":"2015-02-13T05:30:05","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T10:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/?p=5810"},"modified":"2018-08-20T15:53:21","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T19:53:21","slug":"celebrate-public-relations-with-the-plank-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/2015\/02\/13\/celebrate-public-relations-with-the-plank-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate Public Relations with the Plank Center"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Courtesy<\/a>
Courtesy of the Plank Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ten years ago, the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations<\/a> was established and named after the \u201cfirst lady of public relations,\u201d Betsy Plank. The board of trustees at The University of Alabama established the Plank Center on February 4, 2005, to develop research, scholarships and forums that advance the ethical practice of public relations. The Plank Center has become a national leading industry resource. If you haven\u2019t heard of it, it\u2019s time to change that.<\/p>\n

This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the past 10 years of Plank\u2019s vision and one decade of success in leadership and mentorship. It\u2019s also an opportunity to educate target audiences about why we should all be involved with and passionate about the Plank Center.<\/p>\n

Celebration continues all year<\/b><\/p>\n

To celebrate this special anniversary, the Plank Center has kicked off a year-long digital campaign with monthly themes. This month, the Center is honoring leadership with tips and best practices from industry leaders and prominent educators. In coming months, the Center will highlight mentorship, its board of advisers, sectors of public relations, Plank Center research and more. Throughout this campaign, the Center will share resources for students and young professionals.<\/p>\n

Students can get involved by applying to the Plank Center\u2019s scholarships, contributing to Platform Magazine<\/a> and learning from the prestigious board of advisors through online webinars. Past webinars have covered topics such as \u201cBuilding Your Brand,\u201d \u201cAgency for the Future,\u201d \u201cCorporate Responsibility and Sustainability\u201d and \u201cEthics in Public Relations Education.\u201d One of my personal favorite parts of PRSSA National Conference, the Living Legends Panel, is sponsored by the Plank Center and is a source of incredible insight every year.<\/p>\n

Resources available through the Center<\/b><\/p>\n

The Center has resources for students as they transition to young professionals. The entire month of March will include top 10 lists and resources tailored to this audience. The March young professionals theme will feature 10 Ways to Guarantee Success in Public Relations, 10 Tips on Landing Your First Public Relations Job and more.<\/p>\n

The Center also encourages young professionals to mentor their colleagues and students. In the past 10 years, the Plank Center has honored 31 industry leaders for dedication to mentorship at the Milestones in Mentoring Gala in Chicago. The 2014 honorees included Andy Polansky, CEO of Weber Shandwick, and Jose Rivera, lecturer at Cal State San Bernardino.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to join in on the celebration or otherwise get involved with the Plank Center, here are a few ways you can participate:<\/p>\n