By Tia C.M.Tyree, Ph.D.
The public relations program within Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications was named to the PRNEWS 2023 Education A-List. Its inclusion marks the industry’s acknowledgement of the program’s high-caliber students, the faculty’s dedication and teaching efforts, as well as the curriculum and extracurricular activities within the program.
“We are very proud that our public relations program is listed among the top programs in our nation,” said Gracie Lawson-Borders, PhD, dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications. “Our expert faculty bring a robust set of academic knowledge and industry experience, as well as a commitment to student success, that helps to guide, challenge and mentor our students. It is an incredible honor to be recognized by industry leaders and named to the Education A-List.”
The annual editorial roster provides a comprehensive guide for those seeking to locate the best higher learning institutions for public relations and communications. The 2023 list features 46 institutions, including the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Notably, Howard University is one of only three historically Black colleges and universities represented.
Howard’s public relations program is a part of the strategic communications sequence within the school’s department of strategic, legal and management communication. The department’s chair, Kehbuma Langmia, PhD, acknowledged the importance of the faculty in earning a place on the list saying, “Our tireless, highly talented faculty with years of accomplishments have shown through this latest ranking that our students are not only well served but are indeed in the capable hands of those they can trust. These faculty members are capable with proven professional and academic skills to ensure Howard’s strategic communication students that their future in the academy and the professional world are guaranteed.”
The program is also accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, the premier agency responsible for evaluating higher education professional journalism and mass communications programs. Thus, students are ensured high-quality instruction based not only on industry trends, but core foundational practices. Further, because the program is based in Washington, D.C. and has a history of producing top-notch graduates, students are constantly exposed to first-class guest speakers, exceptional partnerships and outstanding extracurricular activities and opportunities. These include all-expense paid trips to conferences, free organizational memberships, and access to specialty programs like the Amazon Studios Howard Entertainment Program and the Myra Blackmon ADPR Academy.
Students are excited about the designation. “It is an honor to be a student within a school named to the PRNEWS 2023 Education A-List, said public relations student Leyha Williams (B.A. ’23). “The Cathy Hughes School of Communications has thoroughly prepared me for a prosperous public relations career. The PR industry is ever evolving, but the curriculum I am taught remains relevant, useful, and innovative. Each tactic has been applicable to industry expectations, and the level I am expected to deliver at ensures that I exceed those expectations.”
