Contact: Maridith Geuder
The coordinator of Mississippi State's academic courses in public relations is receiving the highest regional award presented by professionals in the field.
The Southern Public Relations Federation has chosen John E. Forde, associate professor of communication, to receive its 1999 Professional Achievement Award.
Chosen from among four candidates nominated by their state boards, he received the honor on the basis of career achievement, professional activities, accreditation and continuing education, and public service activities.
Forde directs both the communication department's public relations sequence and its student internship program.
In addition to being active in SPRF programs, he has served as the organization's president, vice president and secretary/treasurer, and head of a range of committees.
Within the Mississippi chapter, he has held offices of president and vice president, as well as leader of two local chapters. He also helped launch chapters in Starkville, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Meridian, and Tupelo.
SPRF has more than 1,000 members with 18 chapters in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida.
Forde holds a doctorate in communication and master's in public relations, both from the University of Southern Mississippi. He completed a bachelor's degree at MSU and an associate of arts degree from Jones County Junior College.
He was public relations director at William Carey College in Hattiesburg before joining the MSU faculty in 1987.