KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 23, 2019 — King University announces the induction of Rebecca (Becky) Huckaby, APR, AAAE, vice president of public relations at the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA), into the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) College of Fellows. Huckaby is one of 11 new members from across the U.S. who have been selected for this honor.

Since 2012, Huckaby has instructed students in the communications department at King’s Knoxville campus, located in the Hardin Valley area, where she teaches courses in public relations, professional communication, persuasion, and more. In addition, she has served in her current position at MKAA since 1997. Huckaby is a member of MKAA’s senior management team, which is responsible for daily operations and strategic planning initiatives for McGhee Tyson Airport and Downtown Island Airport, and she is the airport’s official spokesperson. She is a member of the Volunteer Chapter of PRSA, where she received the Harvey I. Cobert Award of Excellence in 2007 in recognition of her contributions to public relations in East Tennessee.

PRSA is the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community. Founded in 1989, the PRSA College of Fellows is an honorary organization of more than 350 senior practitioners and educators, each of whom has left a significant footprint on the public relations profession.

“Election to PRSA’s College of Fellows, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, recognizes the many outstanding accomplishments of these accredited members in the areas of leadership, service and contributions to the public relations profession,” says Debra Peterson, APR, 2019 PRSA chair. “Members of the College exemplify the very best of PRSA and provide ongoing support to the association, donating their time and expertise as volunteers and mentors to students and professionals. We congratulate these 11 new Fellows who have attained the highest designation PRSA bestows, and we look forward to their continuing contributions to our profession.”

To qualify for admittance into the College of Fellows, public relations professionals must have at least 20 years of experience, hold the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential, and have demonstrated exceptional capability and accomplishment in the practice or teaching of public relations.

“We congratulate Becky on receiving this esteemed honor recognizing her high level of service and exemplary leadership in the public relations field,” says Matt Roberts, Ed.D., provost of King. “Election to the PRSA College of Fellows is a stellar achievement. We are extremely proud of her, and exceedingly gratified by the level of industry knowledge and experience she provides to her students at King.”

The 2019 inductees will be officially welcomed on Oct. 19 prior to PRSA’s 2019 International Conference in San Diego.