Shin Awarded APR Credential by Universal Accreditation Board

Tue, 02/08/2022 - 04:17pm | By: David Tisdale

Dr. Jae-Hwa Shin, professor of public relations in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Communication, recently earned Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation from the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB) for members of 10 public relations professional organizations, as well as public affairs practitioners in the U.S. Department of Defense. 

APR is a two-part credentialing program for communications professionals designed to demonstrate knowledge of critical advanced PR and communications skills based on years of professional experience. 

“On behalf of the Universal Accreditation Board, the national governing board for Accredited in Public Relations (APR), I congratulate Dr. Shin earning the APR,” said Joy Carter, APR, and a member of the UAB. “It is a mark of distinction that reflects positively on her and our profession. It signifies her demonstrated command of the knowledge and know-how to lead in PR, while helping ensure PR/communications is seen as a respected and ethical field of study and practice. We thank her for her commitment and leadership as an outstanding PR professional and educator.”  

Dr. Shin said she initially was encouraged to pursue the APR in by South Korea’s first APR recipient, Kyong-Hae Kim, CEO of Communications Korea, in partnership with Hill + Knowlton Strategies, when she was working as the Director of Communication for the Federation of Korea Industries. Recently she was motivated to get accredited to help her students through the pre-certification process before they enter the profession.   

“Public relations is a field that is still evolving and ever-growing in changing media and technology environments and culturally diverse societies and securing the APR designation shows a commitment to adapting to these changes for the betterment of the profession, in addition to the principles, core values and ethics of our industry,” Dr. Shin said. “I hope my students will consider pursuing the APR designation while they are advancing their career as well to enhance and solidify their own careers in public relations.” 

Dr. Shin is currently serving as advisor for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).  Her research focuses on public relations from a strategic conflict management perspective across cultural settings in social media environments. Her publications include numerous journal articles and book chapters; she has co-authored books that include two widely used textbooks, Public Relations Today: Managing Conflict and Competition and Think: Public Relations, and her latest publication is Public Relations Theory: Capabilities and Competencies, co-authored with Robert Heath. Her forthcoming book is Public Relations Strategies and Tactics. She is a member of the editorial board of Journal of Public Relations Research.  

For information about the USM School of Communication, visit https://www.usm.edu/communication/index.php