By STEVEN MURREY
Managing Editor
smurrey@cherryroad.com
Dr. Kelly Everling Bruhn, a former Elwood resident, has been named the recipient of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Outstanding Educator Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of public relations education through their work in college or university teaching.
Bruhn, a 1997 graduate of Elwood High School, will accept the award at PRSA’s annual conference this week in Anaheim, California.
Currently, Dr. Bruhn is a professor at Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Des Moines, Iowa, where she teaches public relations and serves as Associate Dean. In an interview with the Call-Leader, Bruhn expressed her gratitude for her Elwood roots.
“I was Elwood, born and raised from the time I was at Oakland Elementary all the way through high school. I’m very proud of my time there,” Bruhn said.
While attending Elwood schools, Bruhn was involved in sports, clubs, and organizations that helped her develop leadership skills.
“The folks in Elwood, I mean, they just try to find a way to make it happen for you, and I really think that helped build this great foundation,” she said of her early education.
After high school, Bruhn continued her education, earning her undergraduate degree at Valparaiso University and her master’s degree from Ball State University. Always aiming to stay close to her Midwestern roots, she completed her Ph.D. at Michigan State University.
“I’ve been here—this is my 16th year,” she said of her position at Drake University.
Though Bruhn didn’t originally plan to pursue a career in education and public relations, she credits her experiences in Elwood with guiding her in the right direction.
“I always kind of said, well, I might want to be a teacher because I had good teachers that I wanted to model after,” Bruhn stated. “I saw how they inspired me, and I always thought that would be a really good field.”
The PRSA Outstanding Educator Award is presented to one public relations professor nationwide, and Bruhn said she was deeply honored to be selected.
“I cannot overstate how humbled I am,” she said. “When I look at the list of past recipients… I mean, the people who have won this award are the folks who write our PR textbooks!” Now, Bruhn will join that prestigious list, which includes two of her former professors from Ball State University.
Bruhn’s ties to Elwood remain strong, and she chose to work in Iowa because it’s less than a day’s drive from her hometown. For her, staying connected to her roots is important.
“I have a sign on my desk that says, ‘When you get there, remember where you came from,’” said Bruhn. “And that’s really important to me.” She frequently travels back to Elwood to visit family, including her parents, Joe and Pat Everling.
For Bruhn, this award also recognizes the impact of small universities and their ability to shape students’ futures.
“To get recognition for the great work that happens in small, private schools across our country… I feel really honored to be able to represent that work.”
When asked what advice she would give to current Elwood students interested in a career in public relations, Bruhn said, “Why not you?”
“I think coming from a small town, people sometimes think, ‘Well, how would I even do that?’ or, ‘Should I even try?’ I hope the young people in Elwood feel empowered to ask for help, and to call people like me that maybe have some connections and can help them because we are here to help, and they have a lot to offer. It’s a really fun career, and you get to meet lots of people. I just encourage young people to ask themselves, why not them?”
“Small-town life is special, and I think it really helps form who we are in the best way. I’m just so grateful for my time in Elwood, and in Indiana, and to be a Hoosier,” Bruhn said. “No matter where I go, I’ll always be a Hoosier.”
