The roots of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi extend back to 1956 when communications professionals in Jackson formed what is now the Central chapter of the association. PRAM expanded beyond Jackson in 1978 with the establishment of the Golden Triangle chapter in Columbus and again in 1981 with the formation of the Gulf Coast chapter in Pascagoula. Today, the association has 10 chapters.
In the 1960s, PRAM began co-sponsoring an annual Southern Public Relations Conference with the Public Relations Council of Alabama. At the 10th annual conference in 1973, PRAM and PRCA, with representatives from Louisiana and Florida, officially created the Southern Public Relations Federation. PRAM member Neal W. Cirlot, of Jackson, was elected as the inaugural chairman of the board. Mississippi delegates appointed to the board were Louise Risher, Orby Patton, Bob Sharman and William G. Taylor (alternate).
SPRF, along with eight other regional and national public relations organizations, is a participating member of the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), the national body which administers the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) mark.
2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Morgan Shiyou • Mississippi Beach
Vice President-Programs: Thomas Broadus • Starkville-MSU
Co-Chair, Programs: Sophie McNeil-Wolf, APR • Central
Vice President-Awards: Jan Schaefer, APR • Central
Vice President-Communications: Robin McKinney, APR • Northeast
Vice President-Accreditation: Genie Alice Bruce, APR • Northeast
Vice Presient-Student Services: Vanessa Lowe-Garcia • Central
Treasurer: Jean Cook, APR • Central
Secretary: Ashley Rea • Pine Belt
Member-at-Large: Bethany Shipp • Starkville-MSU
Past President: Matt Westerfield, APR • Central
Chapter Presidents
| PRAM Gulf Coast | Heather Kerutis |
| PRAM Mississippi Beach | Morgan Shiyou |
| Pine Belt PRAM | April Jordan |
| MSU/Starkville | JoLee Clark |
| PRAM Northeast | Debbie Hall |
| PRAM Central | Jan Schaefer, APR |
PAST PRESIDENTS
2025 – Matt Westerfield, APR; Central
2024- Robin McKinney; Northeast
2023 – Matt Martin, APR; Pine Belt
2022 – Amanda Parker, Gulf Coast
2020/21 – Patrice Guilfoyle, APR; Central
2019 – Christen Duhé, APR; Mississippi Beach
2018 – Patti Wade, APR; Central
2017 – Jennie Bradford Curlee; Northeast
2016 – Lorri Freeman, APR; Gulf Coast
2015 – Jim Beaguez, APR; Central
2014 – Shannon Coker, APR; Central
2013 – Melissa Russo; Mississippi Beach
2012 – Meagan Coughlin, APR; Golden Triangle
2011 – Kristie Aylett, APR; Mississippi Beach & Gulf Coast
2010 – Caron Blanton, APR; Central
2009 – Pete Smith; Central
2008 – Jarrod Ravencraft; Central
2007 – Pam Swain; Oxford/Ole Miss
2006 – Mary Cracchiolo-Spain, APR; Mississippi Beach
2005 – Chrystelle Thames; Central
2004 – Kim Collins APR; Northeast
2003 – Tracy (Heggins) Yanez, APR; Mississippi Beach
2002 – Robbie Coblentz; Starkville/Mississippi State
2001 – Robby Channell; Central
2000 – Dana Coleman; Pine Belt
1999 – Sheila Skipper; Central
1998 – Danny Gardner; Starkville/Mississippi State
1996/7 – Rex Kelly; Mississippi Beach
1995 – Alegra Brigham; Golden Triangle
1994 – Norman Gough; Central
1993 – Dr. John E. Forde, APR; Starkville/Mississippi State
PRAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS INDUCTION SPEECH
All PRAM Board Members are sworn in using the speech below.
As members of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, a confidence has been placed in your integrity and ability by your election to these respective offices.
Please raise your right hands and respond with Yes as confirmation:
Are you willing to accept the office to which you have been elected?
Will you perform the duties of your elected position to the best of your abilities?
Will you, in all your actions, strive for the good of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi and the public relations profession?
Now, repeat after me:
I will uphold and enforce
the association’s constitution and bylaws,
and will promote and support
the purpose of the association,
and follow the code of ethics
adopted by the association.
You may lower your hands.
I now install each of you into the office to which you were elected.
Congratulations.