Teaching Future PR & Communication Professionals: How to Implement Practical Experience in Your Course

Erin Tomson is an assistant professor (Career Track) in the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. She earned her Ph.D. (2010) in organizational communication. Her teaching and research focuses on crisis prevention and response planning for nonprofit organizations, public relations, and strategic messaging. Erin does public relations work for several equestrian sports organizations, including the United States Eventing Association, Eventing Nation, and Strides for Equality Equestrians. She brings her experience as a practitioner to the classroom and regularly partners with WSU’s Center for Civic Engagement to set up course projects for her students to create crisis communication plans for nonprofit organizations.