Seneca Professor to Head newly formed CPRS National Council on Education

Toronto, ON - November 28, 2006 - Seneca College and The Canadian Public Relations Society's (CPRS) have announced that professor and long-time member David Turnbull, APR has been appointed Chief Presiding Officer of the newly formed National Council on Education.

Turnbull, 55, will serve a three-year term on the Council. The key priorities set by the CPRS are to establish: national standards for public relations education, research that contributes to a body of knowledge, a Canadian Educators Academy, a national student membership and professional learning.

"CPRS is continuously looking for ways to advance the profession and the professional," said Colleen Killingsworth, APR, CPRS national president. "Formalizing a National Council on Education to focus on standards for public relations education is an important step towards achieving our goal. We are pleased that David Turnbull has agreed to serve as the first chief presiding officer given his experience with and passion for public relations education."

A professor in Seneca's Corporate Communication Program in Toronto, Turnbull is an accredited member of CPRS, and a former award-winning practitioner. He is a graduate of Ryerson University, The University of London (England), and also holds a Master of Education degree from Brock University. He is also National Chair of the International Public Relations Association, and a member of the select-membership Arthur W. Page Society in New York.

"Today's public relations students are tomorrow's practitioners," said Turnbull. "We must ensure that they are studying the right subjects to succeed in Canada. They must have the theoretical underpinnings to be credible to management, and they must be able to evaluate their success using valid business methodology."

He added: "Public relations helps Canada progress every single day. We're helping businesses achieve their goals, we're saving the environment, educating people about healthy lifestyles, and promoting a democracy that is a model for the rest of the world. The work of this Council will provide the tools for tomorrow's practitioners to continue to make a difference."

Turnbull has spent the last five years developing international partnerships for Seneca's Corporate Communications Program. He has been a regular visitor to their partner universities in Australia, Holland, Africa, England, Finland, Belgium, and Scotland, and brings a rich perspective to public relations education.

The Council's first report and research findings will be presented at the CPRS national conference being held in Edmonton, Alberta June 13-15, 2007.

CONTACT: Karen Dalton, APR
Executive Director
Canadian Public Relations Society
416-239-7034