OU professor wins faculty adviser award from Public Relations Student Society of America

Dr. Chiaoning Su, associate professor in Oakland University’s Department of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations, was recently honored with the Dr. Frederick H. Teahan Outstanding Faculty Adviser Award at the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) 2024 ICON Conference. 

The award recognizes a faculty adviser for dedication and creative chapter guidance, effective student motivation, exceptional contributions to public relations education, supportive chapter advocacy and representation within the chapter’s academic department, as well as with its sponsoring Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) chapter and its members.

As this year’s outstanding faculty adviser honoree, Su was presented with a trophy at the ICON Conference, which was held October 13-17 in Anaheim, California. The award also came with a $200 prize to support OU’s PRSSA chapter.  

“Receiving this outstanding faculty adviser award is an incredible honor. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of our OU PRSSA chapter, and I'm truly humbled to be recognized for my role in its success,” said Su. “Seeing the growth and development of our students over the years has been incredibly rewarding, and this award is a validation of the positive impact we've made together.”

Su currently serves as director of OU’s public relations and advertising program, which she helped establish in 2018, as well as director of OU’s Barry M. Klein Center for Culture and Globalization. In 2019, she created OU’s PRSSA chapter to enhance students’ classroom experience and foster connections with the PR industry in the Metro Detroit area. The chapter’s partnerships with PR agencies and companies across the region have helped students gain knowledge and skills through diverse networking, internship and mentorship opportunities. 

“While I first joined PRSSA thinking it would simply be a nice resume bullet point, it turned into one of the most academically and professionally enriching experiences of my college career,” said OU PRSSA Chapter Co-President Anthony Piccirilli. “Through the chapter, I've gained access to professional panels covering topics like healthcare PR, AI in communications and national PRSSA events. My network now extends beyond OU, connecting me with friends, peers and industry veterans across Metro Detroit. I've also had the chance to travel to national PRSSA/PRSA conferences, visit real-world PR agencies and so much more.” 

Columbia Ward, OU PRSSA chapter social media coordinator and executive board member, credits Su’s mentorship with giving her confidence to build her skillset and seek out professional experiences.

“Being a first-generation college student, the professional world seemed out of reach until I joined PRSSA,” Ward shared. “My only regret is not joining sooner – it's opened doors I never thought I’d enter. I have gained more experience in writing social media posts and even landed myself a full-time co-op position at a nearby automotive company.” 

Su’s mentorship and guidance inspired chapter members to nominate her for the Outstanding Faculty Adviser Award. Piccirilli and Ward were part of a group of OU students who attended the 2024 PRSSA ICON Conference where they listened to presentations from industry leaders and networked with students and professionals from around the world. They also witnessed Su receive her award, a moment they found especially meaningful.

“It was an unexplainable feeling to witness this recognition of someone I admire so much,” said Ward “The moment perfectly captured what so many of us in the chapter already knew – that Professor Su is an exceptional mentor who goes above and beyond for her students.”

“Sharing that moment with her and realizing that she won a nationally-recognized award was indescribable,” Piccirilli added. “She is the brains behind our chapter, and it was great to see her recognized for it.”

Since its founding, the chapter has earned numerous accolades through its involvement at OU and in the public relations field. In 2022, the group was honored with the PRSSA Star Chapter and Teahan Award for Chapter Development for their fundraising efforts, alumni relations, on-campus service and newsletter. 

In 2023, the chapter earned the PRSSA Star Chapter Award, as well as the Teahan Award for PRSA/PRSSA Relationship for strong collaboration with its sponsoring PRSA chapter, PRSA Detroit. In 2024, Oakland University recognized the chapter for creative social media content on Instagram and LinkedIn.

“The achievements of our OU PRSSA chapter stem directly from the passion and
dedication of our students. I am immensely proud of their successes, ranging from winning national competitions to organizing impactful events and networking opportunities,” said Su. "It’s truly humbling to realize that I have played a positive role in their academic and professional journeys.”

For more information about OU’s PRSSA chapter, email prssaatou@gmail.com or follow the chapter on Instagram.