by Elisa OHalloran For Gemma Puglisi, Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at American University and Director of Teaching in the Center for Faculty Excellence, receiving the WWPR Woman of the Year Award in 2022 was a professional milestone. A native Washingtonian and daughter of Italian immigrants, Gemma’s father worked as a barber at […]

Three finalists represent exceptional local women who have shaped the communications industry through leadership, innovation and impact Washington, D.C., September 18, 2025 – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), a professional development and networking organization for female communicators in the nation’s capital, today announces the three finalists for the 36th annual Woman of the Year […]

By Elisa OHalloran  Every year, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) honors an exceptional woman with the Woman of the Year Award, a recognition of professional excellence, mentorship, and community impact. If you know a woman whose influence deserves the spotlight, a thoughtful nomination can make all the difference. Here are some tips to help […]

Vanessa French is a Communications and Content Executive with two decades of experience spanning corporate, government, nonprofit, and association sectors. She specializes in building strategic frameworks that deliver results and creating teams and systems that set organizations up for long-term success. Vanessa has led rebrands, launched advocacy campaigns, and crafted strategies that connect and inspire. […]

Kate Urbach is a passionate communicator with over a decade of experience providing strategic communications counsel for organizations across a variety of industries. As a Vice President at Curley Company, Kate helps clients achieve their strategic communications goals. Kate is a global thought leadership expert and has helped clients deliver impactful programs with measurable, actionable […]

Applying for strategic support can be a big lift, especially when you’re already juggling program work, fundraising, and day-to-day operations. If your nonprofit is considering applying to become our next WWPR 2026-2027 pro bono client, here are some of the top FAQ answers and section-by-section guidance to help you along the way.   The application deadline […]

Dear WWPR Community, As summer winds down, I’m filled with deep gratitude for the incredible moments we’ve shared and the inspiring events still to come. From rooftop panels to trail meetups and sold-out signature events, it’s been a season of connection, celebration, and growth… and there is so much more to come. A Summer to […]

By LeAnne DeFrancesco, vice president at Vanguard Communications When I joined my company’s AI Task Force in early 2024, I knew I was going to be the skeptic on the team. I had an open mind about AI tools for other tasks, but for writing? I was not enthused, mostly because I assumed AI outputs […]

Could you tell me about your background and what drew you to your current position?I started my career as an administrative assistant at a health care PR firm and have spent the past 14+ years working in healthcare strategic communications—nine of which have been at CURA Strategies, where I’ve operated at the intersection of communications […]