Paff earns Accreditation in Public Relations
FOR RELEASE: Monday, July 15, 2002
Huntington, Ind. " John W. Paff, managing director of communications at Huntington College, has earned Accreditation in Public Relations by successfully passing a battery of examinations governed by the Universal Accreditation Board and administered by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) is a voluntary certification program for public relations professionals. According to PRSA, the program is intended to unify and advance the profession by identifying those who have demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field.
APR is the mark of a professional who can handle the gamut of researching, planning, conducting, and evaluating a comprehensive public relations program, says Dan Henkel, APR, senior account manager at Shank Public Relations Counselors in Indianapolis. As public relations emerges as an important management discipline, accreditation distinguishes those with broad professional competence.
The Universal Accreditation Program was formed in January 1998. Nine public relations organizations now participate in the universal program, including the Agricultural Relations Council, Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Religion Communicators Council, Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, Southern Public Relations Federation, and the Texas Public Relations Association. The program is administered by PRSA, which operated its own Accreditation program beginning in 1964.
Approximately 6,000 professionals have earned the APR designation. Members of partner organizations must have at least five years of experience in public relations before becoming eligible to take the written and oral examinations. Accredited members are required to renew their Accredited status every three years through continuing education, demonstrated professionalism, and public service.
All of us at Huntington College are extremely proud of John for this significant achievement in his career as a public relations professional, said Ned Kiser, vice president for advancement. John's creative and thoughtful approach to the College's public relations efforts have been a key element in the development of appropriate public perceptions of Huntington College and its mission."
Paff has 15 years of experience in the public relations profession. He earned his bachelor's degree in social studies/secondary education from Oral Roberts University in 1985, and his master's degree in public policy from Regent University in 1987. He served from 1987-93 at the National Legal Foundation, a public interest law firm based in Virginia.
Paff joined the staff of Huntington College in 1993. His responsibilities include marketing, media relations, publications, internal communications, and graphic design. In 1995, Paff launched the school's first web site and has served as webmaster since that time. Huntington College's website has received a number of honors and awards, and one national magazine profiled HC's virtual campus tour alongside those of Harvard, Duke, and UCLA.
In addition, Paff teaches the basic course in public relations at Huntington College. He frequently presents conference seminars on marketing communications and is a freelance web developer for both non-profit and commercial enterprises.
In the local community, Paff serves on the board of the Dan Quayle Center and United States Vice Presidential Museum. He is also the founding president of the Huntington County Community Network, an Access Indiana initiative that brought the first public Internet service to the Huntington community. Paff resides in Huntington with his wife Jeanne, who is a Pampered Chef consultant, and their four young sons.
Huntington College is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 60 academic concentrations. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana.
