San Diego State University to Raise $1.5 Million For PR Center

San Diego State University is organizing a fund raising campaign aiming to get $1.5 million for a public relations center honoring a retired professor contribution to the PR field. The Glen M. Broom Center for Professional Development in Public Relations is designed as part of San Diego State’s School of Journalism & Media Studies, where Broom is a professor emeritus.

Part of the SDSU faculty since 1978, Broom (pictured, courtesy of Utsandiego.com) has been the head of the public relations program and chairman of the Department of Journalism. He has also co-authored multiple editions of Effective Public Relations, a PR textbook that has been used by universities around the world. Professor Broom has been a mentor for thousands of students and helped create one of the top 10 PR programs in the USA.

“No one has done more for the public relations profession than Glen, and we are so fortunate to be able to continue his tradition of excellence,” Joyce Gattas, dean of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, said in a statement.

According to university officials, the center will be in charge an internship program for public relations students which will offer advisingand career development services, training for working professionals and get involved in research activities for professors and students.

“In addition to providing support for internships and professional development, the center will honor Glen’s legacy by supporting the efforts of … faculty and graduate students to produce significant scholarly research in the area of public relations,” Diane Borden, director of SDSU’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, said in a statement.

Several donors have already contributed to the campaign.