NEW YORK, NY – February 1, 2023 – The PRSA Foundation, an independent, 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to advancing diversity and inclusion within the communications profession, announced today that Dawn Christian has been named President.

A sought-after speaker, advisor, coach, and podcast contributor, Christian is the CEO and Founder of Belong by Dawn Christian, a leadership consultancy established on the principles of Belonging as the core foundation of Inclusion, Diversity, Accountability, and Social Impact (IDEAS) practices. She is an expert at leading Belonging + IDEAS initiatives through counseling executive leaders/teams, leveraging her proprietary framework of Ethos-Driven Leadership principles, creating organizational culture strategies, and integrating industry best practices.

Christian was elected by the PRSA Foundation’s Board of Directors and appointed as a trustee in 2022. She succeeds Dr. Aerial Ellis following the completion of her tenure as President.

Said Christian, “In my role, I look forward to working with the PRSA Foundation Board and assessing the equity gaps that exist as an integral step to building sustainable pathways for the marginalized. To change the landscape, we must continue to provide access and resources and create a new narrative about who the talent is and where it exists. We will redefine what the PR industry looks like to reflect more – more backgrounds, heritages, cultures, perspectives, and more people.”

Christian is a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching at McLean, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and is a Bowman Foundation-certified mental health and wellness practitioner. Her board appointments and civic and community memberships have included the Insights Association and IDEA Council. She is a founding member of The Gathering Spot DC, a member of Chief, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a legacy member of Ellevate, Forte Foundation, INROADS, and Management Leader for Tomorrow. Christian graduated from the ShineHard Legacy Accelerator program and McKinsey’s Black Leadership Academy.

Christian received her master’s degree from Cornell University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She also was honored with a Diversity & Inclusion Leadership certificate from Cornell University’s International Labor Relations School.

About the PRSA Foundation 

The PRSA Foundation is an independent, 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that is committed to promoting diversity among public relations professionals and companies so that they can best serve the public good and address the needs of a diverse world. For more information, please visit www.prsafoundation.org.

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Media Contact:

Karen Mateo

(212) 460-1454

karen.mateo@prsa.org