Thought Leadership

Meet PRSA Board of Directors Nominee Felicia Blow, APR

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Each week this fall, PRsay will interview one of the nominees for the 2021 PRSA Board of Directors.

Name: Felicia Blow, APR

Location: Franklin, Va.

Current job title: Associate Vice President for Development/Director, Hampton University’s $150 Million Comprehensive Campaign

Board nominee position: Chair-elect

Alma mater(s): Hampton University; Strayer University; Old Dominion University

Number of years as a PRSA member: 30-plus


You’ve served in a variety of PRSA leadership roles at the local and national level. Why is this service important to you?

There is a personal reward in serving others. Further, you support what you love. Because I love PRSA — its impact, its mission — I have chosen to give my time, talent and treasure to the organization.

That stated, as much as I have given to PRSA, I believe I have received considerably in return. I attribute much of my growth and development as a leader and professional to my many years of service to PRSA. Further, the friendships I’ve developed over the years prove to be just the “icing on the cake” as another “return” on my investment of service to this fine organization.

Do you have a favorite PRSA memory?

There are a number of them! Aside from the vivid memories of greeting friends and reconnecting with peers and PRSSA students, there is one memory that stands out. It was visiting the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and meeting with Bob Hastings, along with Rear Admiral Hal Pittman of the U.S. Navy and others to initiate the APR+M credential. That was truly an honor and a pleasure. It also marked a major movement for PRSA in growing engagement with a new constituency group.

You’re currently co-chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. It has been an active year with the launch of PRSA’s 2020-2022 Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan and the initiative to endow the Multicultural Scholarship, among other endeavors. What accomplishments are you most proud of to date with the committee?

I am most proud of the new D&I Strategic Plan, and the 11-month research journey that I led to get us to the development and promulgation of that plan. The approval by the PRSA Board of Directors and the ongoing process to bring others along in our work also are very rewarding experiences.

There are other experiences that make me proud: They include the execution of the first-ever “Transforming the Landscape” virtual fundraising concert, the execution of our amazing Diverse Dialogue sessions, and the beauty of meeting and working with such spectacular and truly engaged professionals on the national D&I committee.

I truly believe our efforts plan have catapulted the National D&I Committee and PRSA to greater heights of thought leadership in the D&I space.

What are you most looking forward to during your time on the Board?

I am looking forward to contributing to the continued growth and expansion of PRSA as an organization that is positively impacting the lives of its members and others in the communications profession. I am looking forward to building connections with organizations that will help each of us achieve our visions and meet our long-term goals. I look forward to serving and helping others, and being party to just how amazing PRSA can be in the D&I space. I look forward to bridging the challenges of today with the opportunities of tomorrow.

In short, I’m excited to work with a tremendously talented and creative group of folks.


John Elsasser is PRSA’s director of publications. He joined PRSA in 1994.

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John Elsasser

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