Dr. Marlene Neill, APR, Fellow PRSA
Professor & Graduate Program Director

Degrees
- Bachelor of Science in Journalism-Broadcast News from the University of Kansas
- Master of Arts in Journalism-Strategic Communication from the University of Missouri
- Ph.D. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin;
Dissertation: Seat at the Table(s): An Examination of Senior Public Relations Practitioners' Power and Influence Among Multiple Executive-Level Coalitions
Research Interests
- Ethics in public relations, public relations management, integrated communication, ethics in advertising, internal/employee communication
Books
- Neill, M.S. (2024). Leadership Development in Public Relations: Exploring Crucibles of Experience Among Industry Veterans. Routledge.
- Meng, J., & Neill, M.S. (2021). PR Women with Influence: Breaking through the Ethical and Leadership Challenges. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.
- Neill, M.S. & Barnes, A. (2018). Public Relations Ethics: Senior PR Pros Tell Us How to Speak Up and Keep Your Job. New York: Business Expert Press.
Publications (Book Chapters and Journal Articles)
- Neill, M.S., Vasquez, R.A., Broussard, S.L., & Gent, C. M. (2024) Bridging the Diverse Leader Gap in Public Relations Through Accreditation: Examining U.S. Diverse Practitioners’ Motivations, Challenges, and Leader Development. Corporate Communications: An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-02-2024-0028
- Neill, M.S., Davidson, L.; Roker, R., Drewry, E., Hood, L., Vaughan, M., Binford, A. & Joyce, M. (2024). 2024 Practice Analysis: A Comparison of Expectations vs. Actual Performance of Essential Competencies in Public Relations. Corporate Communications: An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-04-2024-0066
- Eng, N., Sun, R., Meng, J., & Neill, M.S. (2024). Promoting Employee Wellbeing and Commitment in Communication Industries. Journal of Communication Management.https://doi.org/10.1108/JCOM-02-2024-0037
- Neill, M.S. (2024). The Influence of Crucibles of Experience in Moral Development & Psychology of Public Relations Exemplars. Journal of Media Ethics, 39(3), 190–205. https://doi.org/10.1080/23736992.2024.2367201
- Neill, M.S., Bowen, S.A., & Bortree, D. (2024). Identifying & addressing gaps in public relations ethics education. Journal of Public Relations Education, 10(1), 108-132. https://journalofpreducation.com/?p=4659 – The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication Top Ethics in PR Pedagogy Award
- Vasquez, R., & Neill, M.S. (2023). Underpaid, Undervalued, Undermined: Examining the Cultural Identities, Challenges, and Coping Strategies of U.S. Latinas in Public Relations, Public Relations Inquiry, 12(3), 293-319.
- Neill, M.S. (2023). The State of Ethics Competencies, Training & Moral Efficacy in Public Relations. Journal of Media Ethics 38(3), 162-175. DOI: 10.1080/23736992.2023.2228305
- Neill, M.S., & Meng, J. (2023). Examining the Characteristics and Virtues Associated with Servant Leadership in Public Relations, Public Relations Inquiry, 12(2),183–209. DOI: 10.1177/2046147X231165225
- Neill, M.S. (2021). Public Relations Professionals Identify Ethical Issues, Essential Competencies & Deficiencies, Journal of Media Ethics, 36 (1).
- Men, L. R., Neill, M.S., & Yue, C. (2020). Examining the Effects of Symmetrical Internal Communication and Employee Engagement on Organizational Change Outcomes, Public Relations Journal, 13 (4). Retrieved from: https://prjournal.instituteforpr.org/wp-content/uploads/Men_Neill_Yue_PRJ_Oct-2020.pdf
- Schauster, E., Neill, M.S., Ferrucci, P., & Tandoc, E. (2020). Public relations primed: An update on practitioners’ moral reasoning, from moral development to moral maintenance, Journal of Media Ethics, 35 (3), 164-179, DOI: 10.1080/23736992.2020.1779595
- Neill, M.S., Men, L. R., & Yue, C. (2019). “Examining the Impact of Communication Climate on Organizational Change Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Organizational Identification,” Corporate Communications: An International Journal.
- Xie, Q., Schauster, E., & Neill, M.S. (2018). Expectations for Advertising and Public Relations Education from Agency Executives: A Comparative Study between China and the United States. Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising, 39 (3), 289-307.
- Neill, M.S. (2018). Change Management Communication: Barriers, Strategies & Messaging. Public Relations Journal, 12 (1): https://prjournal.instituteforpr.org/wp-content/uploads/NeillMarlene_ChangeManagement.pdf
- Neill, M.S., & Schauster, E. (2018). Playing Nice in the Sandbox: Is Collaboration among Advertising & Public Relations Agencies the same as Integration? Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising, 39 (2), 140-159.
- Xie, Q., Neill, M.S., & Schauster, E. (2018). Paid, Earned, Shared and Owned Media from the Perspective of Advertising and Public Relations Agencies: Comparing China and the United States. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 12 (2), 160-179.
- Neill, M.S., & Barnes, A. (2018). The Use of Influence Tactics by Senior Public Relations Executives to Provide Ethics Counsel, Journal of Media Ethics, 3 (1), 26-41.
- Neill, M.S., & Jiang, H. (2017), “Functional Silos, Integration & Encroachment: How IMC impacts the Practice of Internal Communication,” Public Relations Review, 43, 850-862, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2017.06.009
- Neill, M.S. (2017) Ethics Education in Public Relations: Differences Between Stand-Alone Ethics Courses and an Integrated Approach, Journal of Media Ethics, 32(2), 118-131.
- Neill, M. S., & Weaver, N. (2017) Silent & unprepared: Most millennial practitioners have not embraced role as ethical conscience. Public Relations Review, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2017.01.002
- Schauster, E., & Neill, M. (2017) Have the Ethics Changed? An Examination of Ethics in Advertising and Public Relations Agencies, Journal of Media Ethics, 32:1, 45-60, DOI: 10.1080/23736992.2016.1258993
- Neill, M.S., & Lee, N. (Summer/Fall 2016). “Roles in Social Media: How the Practice of Public Relations is Evolving,” Public Relations Journal, 10 (2).
- Neill, M.S. (2016) Accredited vs. non-accredited: How accreditation impacts perceptions and readiness to provide ethics counsel. Public Relations Review, 42, 856-866. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2016.08.002
- Neill, M.S. (2016). The Influence of Employer Branding in Internal Communication, Research Journal of the Institute for Public Relations, 3 (1). Available online: https://www.instituteforpr.org/influence-employer-branding-internal-communication/
- Schauster, E., Ferrucci, P., & Neill, M.S. (2016). “Native Advertising is the New Journalism: How Deception Impacts Social Responsibility,” American Behavioral Scientist.
Academic Conference Presentations
- “Moral Reasoning and Development Across Industries of Mass Communication,” Media Ethics Division, Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Conference, Aug. 9, 2019, Toronto, Ontario, - Patrick Ferrucci and Erin Schauster, Colorado-Boulder; Edson Tandoc, Nanyang Technological; and Marlene Neill, Baylor University
- “Public Relations Professionals Identify Ethical Issues, Essential Competencies & Deficiencies,”International Public Relations Research Conference, March 7-9, 2019, Orlando, Florida - Marlene S. Neill, Baylor University
- “Examining the Impact of Communication Climate on Organizational Change Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Organizational Identification,” International Public Relations Research Conference, March 7-9, 2019, Orlando, Florida - Marlene S. Neill, Baylor University; Rita Men, University of Florida; and April Cen Yue, University of Florida
- “Public relations primed: An update on practitioners' moral reasoning, from moral development to moral maintenance,” Public Relations Division, Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Conference, Aug. 7, 2018, Washington, D.C. – Erin Schauster, University of Colorado Boulder; Marlene S. Neill, Baylor University; Patrick Ferrucci; University of Colorado Boulder; Edson Tandoc, Nanyang Technological University Singapore.
- “Ethics Counsel in Public Relations Practice: Influence Tactics, Barriers and Consequences,” Public Relations Society of America Educators Academy Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, Oct. 7, 2017 – Marlene S. Neill and Amy Barnes, University of Arkansas – Little Rock.
- “Roles in Social Media: How the Practice of Public Relations is Evolving,” Invited to present at PRSA International Conference, Oct. 8, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts, The Brightest and Best Academic Research in Public Relations. A session featuring a cross-section of articles recently published in PRSA’s Public Relations Journal and papers presented at this year’s International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC), and chosen by a sub-committee of the Journal’s Editorial Review Board.
- “The Use of Influence Tactics by Senior Public Relations Practitioners to Provide Ethics Counsel,” Media Ethics Division, Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Conference, Aug. 9, 2017, Chicago – Marlene S. Neill and Amy Barnes, University of Arkansas – Little Rock. Received Professional Relevance Award from the Media Ethics Division.
- “An Examination of Social Media from an Integrated Communication Perspective in Global & Regional Organizations,” Public Relations Division, Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Conference, Aug. 10, 2017, Chicago – Marlene S. Neill and Hua Jiang, Syracuse University.
- “Silent & Unprepared: Most Millennial Practitioners yet to Embrace Role as Ethical Conscience,” International Public Relations Research Conference, March 8-11, 2017, Orlando, Florida - Marlene S. Neill and Nancy Weaver, Internal Communications Manager, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (study sponsored by Arthur W. Page Center for joint faculty-practitioner research). Received Brigham Young University Top Ethics Paper Award
- “The Impact of Emerging Media on Advertising and Public Relations Agencies: A Cross Cultural Comparison between the U.S. and China,” Public Relations Society of America Educators Academy Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, Oct. 22, 2016 – Quan Xie, Bradly University, Marlene S. Neill, and Erin Schauster, University of Colorado Boulder
- “Ethics Education in Public Relations: Differences between Stand-Alone Ethics Courses and an Integrated Approach,” Public Relations Society of America Educators Academy Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, Oct. 22, 2016- Marlene S. Neill
- “Have the Ethics Changed? An Examination of Ethics in Advertising & Public Relations Agencies,” American Academy of Advertising Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, March 17-20, 2016 – Erin Schauster, University of Colorado Boulder, and Marlene S. Neill
- “Roles in Social Media: How the Practice of Public Relations is Evolving,” Public Relations Society of America Educators Academy Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 7, 2015 – Marlene S. Neill and Nicole Lee, Texas Tech University
- “Change Management Communication: Barriers, Strategies & Messaging,” Public Relations Division, Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, Aug. 8, 2015 – Marlene S. Neill
- “Fierce Competition While Playing Nice in the Sandbox: Trends in Advertising & Public Relations Agencies,” Advertising Division, Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, Aug. 6, 2015 – Marlene S. Neill and Erin Schauster, University of Colorado Boulder
- "Public relations' collaborative role in ethics and values communication," 18th annual International Public Relations Research Conference, Miami, Florida, March 4, 2015, Marlene S. Neill
- “Emerging Issues in Internal Communications: Generational Shifts, Internal Social Media, Supervisor Communication & Engagement," Public Relations Society of America Educators Academy Conference, Washington, D. C., Oct. 11, 2014, Marlene S. Neill
- “Who is Responsible for What? Examining Strategic Roles in Social Media Management," Public Relations Division, Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, Aug. 8, 2014, Marlene S. Neill and Mia Moody-Ramirez
- "Beyond the C-Suite: Public Relations' Scope, Power & Influence at the Senior Executive Level" - Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Conference, Aug. 8, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
- "Public relations professionals as organizational conscience in practice" - American Marketing Association Winter Educators Conference, Feb. 19, 2011 in Austin, co-author Minette E. Drumwright
Accomplishments
- Selected for Arthur W. Page Society
- Plank Center for Public Relations Leadership Board of Advisors (2023-2025)
- AEJMC Institute for Diverse Leadership (2023-2024)
- AEJMC Media Ethics Division Teaching Excellence Award (July 27, 2023)
- PRSA Outstanding Educator Award (Nov. 13, 2022)
- Accredited by the Public Relations Society of America
- Chair, PRSA Educators Academy (2021)
- Inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows (2020)
- Division Head, AEJMC Media Ethics Division (2019-2020)
- Member of PRSA's Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (2013-2018)
- Member of the Universal Accreditation Board (2008-2010)
- Accreditation Marketing Committee for PRSA (2007-2008)
- Chair for the Southwest District of PRSA (2011) - oversaw 14 PRSA chapters in 6 states
- PRSA Nominating Committee in (2012) - participated in meeting in Chicago to select slate of national officers for 2012
- Faculty adviser for Baylor PRSSA chapter (2012-present)
Background
- Community Relations Specialist for the City of Waco (1999-2009)
- Membership Director for Waco Family YMCA (1998-1999)
- General Assignment Reporter for KCEN-TV (1994-1998)
Year Started at Baylor
- 2006
Courses
- Principles of Advertising and Public Relations
- Advertising Copywriting
- Strategic Communication Research
- Advertising Management
- Media Law & Ethics
- Theory of Mass Communication
Favorite Thing About Teaching
Getting to know the students and helping them prepare for their careers.