By Pro Bono Committee  As we close out December, WWPR is wrapping up our two-year pro bono partnership with Running Start. What began as a professional commitment evolved into something much more meaningful—a true partnership built on shared values, collaborative spirit, and a genuine friendship that made every project a joy. Throughout our time together, […]

A Strong Finish, a Balanced Start to 2026 By Marianna Aristizabal As 2025 winds down, many organizations are reflecting on the year, what went well, what didn’t, and what’s ahead. For those specifically in health communications, this is the perfect moment to highlight how wellness, both personal and organizational, ties into goals for the upcoming […]

Charmaine Riley, Communications Director at American Beverage, WWPR VP/Incoming 2026 President  Charmaine Riley is a public relations and communications director with 10+ years of experience in media relations, advocacy and strategic communications. She has a track record of securing media coverage and managing social impact initiatives. Dedicated, creative and highly collaborative, she brings diverse experience […]

Dear WWPR Community, as we close out 2025, I’m feeling incredibly grateful—for the unforgettable experiences we’ve shared, the relationships we’ve deepened, and the continued momentum we’ve built as a community of women in communications. It has been an absolute honor to serve as President of WWPR during such a meaningful year. From day one, our […]

 For 46 years, the organization has led networking and professional development opportunities for female communicators in D.C. WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 4, 2025) – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), a leading membership organization for female communications professionals in the Washington, D.C. area, today announced its 2026 Board of Directors. The newly elected Board is as […]

by Elisa O’Halloran Q1. Tell us about your background—where you’re from, your education, etc., including your career background. I’m a California girl who’s been on the East Coast since graduate school. I love where I’m from, but I’ve always said I’m a little too Type A for the West Coast. The East Coast pace and […]

Michelle Schafer heads up Merritt Group’s AI and Security Practice Groups, where she applies over two decades of hands-on PR-related experience spanning every discipline. She is known for creating and implementing strategic communications campaigns that drive results for clients such as IOActive, ISC2, CrowdStrike, Tenable, Fortify Software, and SentinelOne. Michelle provides strategy and positioning guidance […]

Tiffanie Rosier is a People & Culture professional and Program Manager at Hotwire and ROI·DNA, where she focuses on recruiting diverse talent, global employee recognition, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives. With a background in higher education, events, and communications, she brings extensive experience in recruiting, training, and presenting across the U.S. Tiffanie holds […]

By: Allison Gross, associate director, Vanguard Communications Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to speak about artificial intelligence (AI) in communications at the National Disability Rights Network Annual Conference. In a Zoom room filled with advocates, attorneys and communicators, the questions were less about the technology itself and more about its purpose. How can […]