September Luncheon: How to Speak Up and Keep Your Job

About the Program

Many senior public relations executives consider ethics counsel to be one of their core responsibilities because ethical conduct is associated with trust and credibility. Raising ethical concerns to more senior leaders, however, can be quite intimidating. Join us as we welcome Marlene Neill, Ph.D., APR, associate professor and graduate program director at Baylor University, as she speaks about how in reality, “speaking truth to power” can often have serious consequences for someone’s career. Her presentation will cover insights based on nearly 150 in-depth interviews with public relations executives—professionals working in a variety of industries, as well as original survey research. Learn about the process of gaining influence and the mistakes to avoid when navigating internal politics. Many of the lessons are applicable to public relations counsel generally.

About the Speaker

Marlene Neill, Ph.D., APR, is an associate professor and graduate program director at Baylor University. She teaches courses in public relations and advertising.  She also serves as the faculty adviser for the Baylor PRSSA chapter.  Her research interests include public relations management and ethics. She has published a book on public relations ethics as well as research in the following journals: Journal of Mass Media Ethics, Public Relations Review, Journal of Communication Management and Journal of Advertising Education. Neill is an accredited member of the Central Texas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She served as the chair for the Southwest District of PRSA in 2011. At the national level, Neill served a three-year term on the Universal Accreditation Board; the Nominating Committee, which selects national board officers in 2012; and was appointed to the Board of Ethics & Professionals Standards from January 2013-December 2018.  She received her Ph.D. in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, her Master of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.  She previously worked for 10 years in government public relations at the City of Waco, 1 1/2 years in nonprofit public relations at the Waco Family YMCA and 3 1/2 years at KCEN-TV as a reporter.

Menu

Chicken piccata with chef’s choice of sides and veggies, warm rolls with cheesecake with raspberry topping for dessert. A choice of salad, with or without meat, is also available. Make your selection when registering, and be sure to pick up your salad ticket upon checking in for the luncheon if you choose that option.

RSVP Policy

All RSVPs for lunch meetings must be made by 5 p.m. on MONDAY of the week of a meeting. After that time, members and guests will need to call Sara Hunt at (804) 994-1120 to see if space is still available or to be put on a waiting list if needed. Please RSVP early in order to ensure that you are included in the headcount for lunch! If you register as a guest and later determine that you cannot attend, please contact Sara Hunt, chapter administrator, at admin@prsarichmond.org. You must cancel prior to three business days in advance of the meeting to be eligible for a refund. If you cancel after that deadline, you will still be responsible for the lunch payment and will be billed if you didn’t already pay online. No-shows will be billed for the lunch.

Event Contact

Sara Hunt, chapter administrator
(804) 994-1120
admin@prsarichmond.org