Center for Global Public Relations
The Center for Global Public Relations (CGPR) is a nonprofit unit located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C. Directed by Dr. Dean Kruckeberg, APR, Fellow PRSA, who is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies in UNC Charlotte's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is co-chair of the Commission on Public Relations Education, the Center provides resources for practitioners, scholars/educators and students from throughout the world who wish to increase their knowledge about global public relations.
Contents
The CGPR staff consists of the manager, associate managers, volunteers, an advisory board, scholars-in-residences and global affiliates. For students, the Center offers undergraduate and graduate learning resources, research materials and helps students identify and learn about international opportunities for the study of global public relations. For public relations practitioners, the Center provides research and consultation, seminars and online learning opportunities. Scholars can participate in guest teaching and take advantage of resources for research. The Center for Global Public Relations believes that the need exists in modern global society for specialists in public relations who have particular knowledge and skills to practice public relations in a range of social, political, economic and cultural environments, while adhering to universal professional values and best practices.
Mission
The Center for Global Public Relations is dedicated to helping public relations practitioners, scholars/educators and students coalesce into a global professional community that shares universal professional values and best practices. The Center's mission is to encourage and support the evolution of global public relations as a specialization of professional practice that can help people and organizations worldwide through communication and understanding.
History
Dedicated February 21, 2009 the Center for Global Public Relations hosted speakers from around the world who discussed the importance of education, image, public relations in emerging markets and the growing use social media.
Speakers at the dedication ceremony included:
Dr. Edward Brynn, a retired career Foreign Service Officer and former Ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ghana.
Joe Epley, founding member of Worldcom Group, the global consortium of independent public relations firms, and former national president of the Public Relations Society of America.
Bob Grupp, immediate past president of the International Public Relations Association and president of Grupp Global Partners LLC.
Dr. Doug Newsom, a world-renowned public relations scholar and author who has taught and performed research globally.
John Paluszek, senior counsel of the global communications company Ketchum, former president of the Public Relations Society of America and co-chair of the Commission on Public Relations Education.
Gen. Ron Rand, retired brigadier general who served as the U.S. Air Force's top public affairs officer and who is now director of communications for Lockheed-Martin.
Dr. Katerina Tsetsura, a Russian Scholar at the University of Oklahoma who has performed extensive research about global media corruption.
Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, former dean at Sheik Zayed University, United Arab Emirates, and president-elect of the Arab-U.S. Association for Communication Educators.
March 4, 2010 The Center welcomed Dr. Chiara Valentini as its new Scholar-In-Residence.
April 23, 2010 The Center for Global Public Relations hosted its first professional seminar focusing on international public relations. The seminar received coverage in news media and was promoted on many other websites.
April 15, 2011 The Center for Global Public Relations hosted its first annual research conference, "Exploring Global Issues and Relationships." Keynote speaker was Jay DeFrank, VP, Pratt & Whitney Communications and Government Relations. Global panelists were Joe Epley, Joe Carleo, John Paluszek and Denise Hill. The conference featured presenters from across the globe, with the furthest participant traveling from Indonesia. Several public relations practitioners, including those from Ketchum and The Caliber Group, were also present.
April 20, 2012 The Center for Global Public Relations hosted its second annual research conference, "Communicating Beyond Borders: Building Relationships Among Corporations, NGOs and Governments." Keynote speaker was Marco Herrera, CEO and President of Grupo Public, an international PR firm in Mexico City. Global panelists were Joe Epley, Oliver Schmidt, Dr. Juan-Carlos Molleda and Alma Kadragic; the panel was moderated by John Paluszek. The conference featured presenters from across the globe, with the furthest participants traveling from Korea.