Newhouse School of Communications

Brenda Wrigley Ph.D.
Department Chair, PR; Associate Professor, PR
Public_Relations

B.A. University of Missouri/Columbia
M.S. Syracuse University
Ph.D. Syracuse University

Office: Newhouse 3 Rm. 318E
Telephone: (315) 443-1911
Email: brwrigle@syr.edu
Email:

Dr. Brenda J. Wrigley is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Relations at Syracuse University. Dr. Wrigley teaches PRL 497, Public Relations Management; PRL 725, Public Relations Management; PRL 345/600, The Ethics of Advocacy; PRL 206, Public Relations Principles and Concepts; and PRL 605, Organizational Public Relations, at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Prior to coming to Syracuse, she was an assistant professor at Michigan State University for five years.

She holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri/Columbia, as well as a M.S. in Public Relations and Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Her dissertation is entitled, "The ceiling's made of structural steel, not glass: Barriers to advancement of women in public relations and communications management."

Dr. Wrigley has 14 years of professional experience as a broadcast journalist, account executive and sales manager in both radio and television. She also has seven years of experience as a corporate marketing communications manager. She holds an APR (Accredited in Public Relations) designation from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Dr. Wrigley won the Teaching Recognition Award from the Meredith Program at Syracuse University in 2006.

Her work has been presented at a number of conferences, including the Public Relations Society of America; the International Communication Association; the Association for Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication; the International Association for Mass Communication Research; and the International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity. Her work has appeared in several journals, including the Journal of Advertising Education; the Journal of Public Relations Research; Public Relations Review; Journalism and Mass Communications Educator; and Journalism and Mass Comm Quarterly. She is a co-author of the book "The Gender Challenge to Media: Diverse Voices from the Field" and a contributor to the book "Teaching Public Relations". Her research interests include gender and public relations; public relations ethics; crisis communications; gay and lesbian studies; and mass media coverage of deviant social and political groups.

Dr. Wrigley was named to Who's Who Among American Teachers in 2002 and Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges in 1998.

Dr. Wrigley was born in Sidney, N.Y., and is the daughter of Keith and Marjorie Wrigley. She has two brothers, Dr. Keith Wrigley, a retired physician in Portland, Ore., and Kenneth Wrigley, a physician's assistant in Elmira, N.Y. Dr. Wrigley resides with her wife, Catherine Pontante, in Manlius, New York. They are the proud parents of a golden retriever, Holly; a yellow lab mix, Abby; and four felines, Oreo, Truman, Otto and Mickey.

Expertise:

• Activism
• Communication Theories of Public Relations
• Crisis Communications
• Ethics, Public Relations
• Gay and Lesbian Media Coverage/Worklife Issues
• Gender Relations and Public Affairs
• Internal Communications/PR
• Issues Management
• Media Relations