Graham Earns Accreditation in Public Relations

Stephanie Graham, senior editor and director of communications at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, has successfully completed the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations, entitling her to use the APR professional designation. The announcement was made by the Universal Accreditation Board, a consortium of nine professional communication organizations that directs this competency certification program.

Fewer than 2 percent of public relations practitioners have achieved the APR designation. Graham has joined more than 5,000 active, accomplished accredited practitioners who have demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field.

Graham has worked as a public relations practitioner for 31 years. Two decades have been spent at Harvey Mudd College, where, as a member of the marketing and communications team, she produces content for print and electronic media channels, including the College’s magazine. Prior to Harvey Mudd, she worked for nine years at Claremont School of Theology and for two years at Parents Anonymous. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America-Inland Empire Chapter.

The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the profession, including planning, management science, communication theory and ethics. The examination is designed for public relations professionals with at least five to seven years of job experience and/or a bachelor’s degree in a communication field. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting their portfolio to a panel of three accredited peers and sitting for a computer-based examination, are granted the APR.

“Earning the APR reflects a mastery of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in our increasingly complex profession,” said Ann P. Knabe, APR+M, 2020 chair of the Universal Accreditation Board. “Practitioners who achieve the designation are demonstrating their commitment not only to our profession, but also to a strong code of ethics and to the betterment of their organizations and clients.

About the Universal Accreditation Board

The UAB was established in 1998 by a coalition of public relations professional organizations that today includes the Asociación de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico, California Association of Public Information Officials, Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National Association of Government Communicators, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America, Religion Communicators Council and the Southern Public Relations Federation. Each organization contributes resources and senior-level volunteer members who represent all segments of the public relations profession.

Information about the UAB and the APR designation.