Dr. Diana Martinelli, former dean of the WVU Reed College of Media, will be inducted into the WV Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Hall of Fame during the Night of Honors on Nov. 13. Professor of Public Relations Geah Pressgrove will be receiving the Educator of the Year award.
Martinelli is a two-time WVU alumna, earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from what was then the P.I. Reed School of Journalism. She returned to WVU in 2005 as the first Widmeyer Professor in Public Relations.
Dr. Diana Martinelli
She served as the associate dean of the Reed College of Media for eight years, working as the acting dean for the College from 2015-16, and as the dean from 2019 until 2024 when the Reed College of Media and the College of Creative Arts merged. Martinelli then served as the vice dean of the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media and director of the Reed School of Media and Communications during the 2024-25 academic year.
Under Martinelli’s leadership, the Reed College of Media received full reaccreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and earned the Certification for Education in Public Relations in 2018, making it one of only 39 certified programs internationally and the only one in West Virginia.
A diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) champion, Martinelli also serves on the advisory board of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society.
Overall, she has dedicated 36 years to advancing the field of public relations through education, research and leadership.
“I was happily surprised by the news of my selection and am extremely honored to join the esteemed professionals in the WV Public Relations Hall of Fame,” Martinelli said. “It’s both humbling and rewarding to know that my public relations colleagues believe my contributions to the field are worthy of this recognition.”
“Public relations students should know they have chosen a wonderful career path,” she added. “Informing and building relationships with an organization’s stakeholders; authentically communicating that organization’s mission and values; and striving to improve its services, viability and communities is noble and exciting work. The field remains robust and full of opportunity for those who apply themselves, remain curious and continue to grow and learn.”
Martinelli was nominated for the PRSA Hall of Fame by Pressgrove, her long-time colleague in the Reed School.
“Diana has been a mentor, leader and visionary for our profession. Her integrity, scholarship and steady guidance have elevated public relations education and inspired generations of students and colleagues,” said Pressgrove.
Pressgrove, who teaches advertising and public relations courses, will be awarded Educator of the Year. She also received the honor in 2019.
Professor Geah Pressgrove
The WV PRSA Educator of the Year award honors a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional dedication to preparing the next generation of public relations professionals. It recognizes excellence in teaching, mentorship and leadership within both academic and professional communities, celebrating those who bridge classroom learning with real-world impact.
“It’s an incredible honor, but what means the most to me is what it represents: the hard work, creativity and heart my students put into everything they do. Their growth and success are the real reward,” Pressgrove said.
Pressgrove is the faculty advisor for the WVU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, which is handling event planning and logistics for the WV PRSA Night of Honors.
“I’m so proud of our PRSSA students,” Pressgrove said. “They’ve handled this event with professionalism and enthusiasm, managing everything from logistics to promotion with impressive attention to detail. It’s been a great example of learning by doing.”
The WV PRSA Night of Honors will be held at the Art Museum of WVU on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. WV PRSA member tickets are $40, non-member tickets are $50 and students may attend for free. To register for the event, visit https://prsawv.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=56&ts=1760314814.