[1:00 – 2:00 p.m.]
Part I – Guiding Prosocial Communication in Challenging Times Research Insights from Three Contexts.
- Sponsored by the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication.
- Moderating/Presiding:
- Jonathan McVerry, Penn State, Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication
- Brooke W. McKeever, Alabama
- Panelists:
- Dongya Wang, Miami
- Jiacheng Huang, Minnesota
- Staci Smith, Virginia Commonwealth
[2:10 – 3:10 p.m.]
Part II – Industry Leadership through Prosocial Communication.
- Sponsored by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.
- Moderating/Presiding:
- Karla Gower, University of Alabama, Director, Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.
- Panelists:
- Kindred Motes, Founder and Director, KM Strategies Group
[3:20 – 3:50 p.m.]
Part III – Workshop on Prosocial Communication in the Classroom
- Part III will combine the Page Center and Plank Center presentations in an interactive format to help attendees consider how to bring lessons from research and practice into their classrooms, helping students prepare for the challenges of prosocial communication in the real world.
[4:00 – 5:00 p.m.]
Part IV – Community Mobilization in Action: Case Study of the Wallace Grain Elevator.
- Moderating/Presiding: Michelle Keller, Kansas.
- Panelists:
- Jo Banner, Co-founder & Co-director, The Descendents Project
- Dr. Joy Banner, Co-founder & Co-director, The Descendents Project
- Dr. Kimberly Terrell, Environmental Integrity Project
- $10 Fee [Registration required]
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2026
8:30-9:45 a.m.
Plank Mentorship Coffee Hour: registration required
10:15 to 11:30 a.m. / W000
Public Relations and Communication Theory and Methodology Divisions
PFR Panel Session: Research Methods for the Marginalized: Navigating the Challenges of Research Ethically and Effectively
- Moderating/Presiding: Staci B. Smith, Virginia Commonwealth
- Panelists
- Arunima Krishna, Boston
- Katie Place, Quinnipiac
- Jennifer Vardeman, Houston
- E. Cisek, Texas at Austin
- Linda Aldoory, American
- Brian Smith, Virginia Commonwealth
Noon to 1:15 p.m. / W000
Political Communication and Public Relations Divisions
[03-1200] — Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session
- Topic: Corporate Social Advocacy, DEI & Legitimacy
- Discussant: Yan Qu, University of Maryland; Katie Place, Quinnipiac
- Topic: CSR, Purpose & Global Corporate Responsibility
- Discussant: Anli Xiao, University of South Carolina
- Topic: Publics, Activism & Community Engagement
- Discussant: Hao Xu, The University of Melbourne
- Topic: Crisis, Political Communication & Misinformation
- Discussant: Renita Coleman, UT Austin; Tiffany Gallicano, University of North Carolina Charlotte
1:45 to 3 p.m. / W000
Public Relations Division and Internships and Careers Interest Group
Research Panel Session: Strategic from Day One: Early PR Agency Careers in an AI-Accelerated Industry
- Moderating/Presiding: Adrienne A. Wallace, Grand Valley State University
- Panelists:
- Julie O'Neil, Texas Christian University
- Emily Kinsky, West Texas A&M University
- Kim Sample, PR Council
- Dave Maher, Zehnder
- Allison Stiel, Zehnder
- Rashaun Harris, NextGen PR Group
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026
9:45 to 11 a.m. / Th000
Public Relations Division
High-Density Refereed Research Paper Session
- Top Teaching Papers and GIFT High-Density Session
- Moderating/Presiding: Tugce Ertem-Eray, North Carolina State University
- Discussant: Emily S. Kinsky, West Texas A&M University
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. / Th000
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
[00-1130] — Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session
- Topic: Crisis Response, Strategic Silence & Reputation Management
- Discussant: Hyejoon Rim, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. / Th000
Public Relations and Political Communications Divisions
PFR Panel Session Edelman-Adams Panel: Communicating and Counseling in Polarized Times
- Moderating/Presiding: Luke Capizzo, Michigan State University
- Panelists:
- Caitlin Semo, Edelman
- Arunima Krishna, Boston
- Myiah Hutchens, Florida
- Sifan Xu, Tennessee Knoxville
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2026
8 to 9:15 a.m. / F000
Communication Theory and Methodology and Public Relations Divisions
Teaching Panel Session Seeing Patterns: Teaching Data Analytics and AI-Driven Visualization in Mass Communication
- Moderating/Presiding: Judith E. Rosenbaum, Maine
- Panelists:
- Amanda Weed, Kennesaw State
- Joe Colacurcio, SVP Analytics & Intelligence, Weber Shandwick
- Lee Ahern, Penn State
- Hunter Overton, Penn State
9:45 to 11a.m. / F000
Public Relations and Media Ethics Divisions
PFR Panel Session Campus Reactions to Active School Shooter Situations
- Moderating/Presiding: Patrick F. Merle, Florida State University
- Panelists:
- Elizabeth C. Ray, Florida State University
- Lisa Krantz, University of Montana
- Jensen Moore, University of Oklahoma
- Eldaneka Rolle, Florida State University
1:15 to 2:30 p.m. / F000
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
[00-0800] — Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session
Media Ethics Division Public Relations Division – [20]
- Topic: AI Transparency, Trust & Strategic Communication
- Discussant Sun Young Lee, University of Maryland
- Topic: Workplace AI Adoption & Employee Relations
- Discussant: Vincent Huang, Hong Kong Baptist University
- Topic: Governance, Ethics, Crisis & Emerging Technology Publics
- Discussant: Alan Abitbol, University of Tampa
3 to 4:15 p.m. / F000
Internships and Careers Interest Group and Public Relations Division
Teaching Panel Session Business Basics for Career Success
- Moderating/Presiding: Jake Batsell, Southern Methodist
- Panelists:
- Matt Ragas, DePaul
- Debbie Davis, Texas Tech
- Charles Lubbers, South Dakota
- Melita Garza, Illinois
- Adrienne Wallace, Grand Valley State
4:45 to 6 p.m. / F000
Public Relations Division
Top Refereed Research Paper Session
- Top Papers: Open Competition; DEI and Newsom in Public Relations Competition
- Moderating/Presiding: Janice Lee, Louisiana State University
- Discussant: Arunima Krishna, Boston University
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. / F000
Public Relations Division
Business Session Members’ Meeting
- Moderating/Presiding: Ioana Coman, Texas Tech University
7:45 to 9:30 p.m. / F000
Public Relations Division Off-site Social
- Hosting: Ioana Coman, Texas Tech University; Queenie Li, University of Miami
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026
11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. / Sa000
Public Relations Division
Refereed Research Paper Session Top Student Papers
- Moderating/Presiding: Chris McCollough, Kennesaw State University
- Discussant: James Ndone, Coastal Carolina University