Contact: Heath Shackleford
A Mississippi State University faculty member is the new president of the Southern Public Relations Federation.
Assistant professor John E. Forde assumed his new duties at the federation's recent board meeting in Mobile, Ala. He is coordinator of the communication department's public relations and internship programs.
The SPRF is the umbrella organization for 15 local chapters of four regional groups, including the public relations associations of Mississippi and of Louisiana, Public Relations Council of Alabama and Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization in Florida.
Forde has served on the federation board of directors since 1990 and is former president of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, as well as PRAM chapters in Starkville and Columbus.
"I'm honored to be elected to this office," Forde said. "I have been very involved with PRAM and SPRF since 1987 and I value the many benefits of membership."
Forde said the organization works to provide various types of professional development for members and, in turn, to enhance the field.
"We are experiencing excellent growth in the region, both in numbers of members and in public relations career opportunities," he said.
SPRF currently has about 1,100 members in the four-state region. The Mississippi organization has more than 300 members with chapters in Columbus, Gulfport/Biloxi, Hattiesburg/Laurel, Jackson, Pascagoula/Moss Point, and Starkville/Mississippi State.
Forde holds doctoral and master's degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and a bachelor's from Mississippi State. He also is a graduate of Jones County Junior College.
He was director of public relations at William Carey College in Hattiesburg from 1985 until joining the Mississippi State faculty in 1987.