Education

M.A., Journalism and Strategic Media, University of Memphis

B.A., Public Relations with minors in Marketing and Social Media Marketing, University of Memphis

About Prof. Oakley Weddle

Oakley Weddle has always had a passion for teaching and storytelling. From a young age, he was directing his neighborhood friends in countless original musicals performed in his living room, igniting his love for both education and creativity.

Today, Oakley is a multifaceted professional. He works full-time as a Marketing Manager at ProTech Services Group, Inc., runs his own agency, Jubilant Communications, and serves as the board president of The PEYitforward Foundation, a non-profit established in memory of his late brother. He also teaches theatre at a local cottage tutorial and operates Firefly Creative, a non-profit theatre group dedicated to bringing musicals to schools and the community, free of charge, to enhance arts education in the Memphis area.

Oakley is an alum of the University of Memphis, where he earned his bachelor's degree in public relations in 2022 and his master's degree in journalism and strategic media in 2023. During his time at UofM, he was actively involved at Meeman, serving as a graduate assistant, the President of the JRSM Graduate Association, and presenting at multiple conferences. He also taught classes, further fueling his passion for education.

His commitment to the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) was significant. He held various roles within the University of Memphis Chapter, including Chapter President, and on a national level, serving as the National VP of Chapter Development during the 2023-2024 year. His leadership helped UofM secure the opportunity to host PRSSA ICON, the largest public relations conference for students, where he coordinated the event, welcoming over 500 students to Nashville in 2023.

Oakley’s achievements have been widely recognized. He was named the 2024 PRSA Student Communicator of The Year, a 2023 Memphis Flyer 20<30 honoree, and received several awards, including the JRSM Outstanding Graduate Student Award, the PRSSA Elaine Averick Outstanding National Committee Award, the Gold Key Award for his service to PRSSA, and the UofM Presidential Award for Outstanding Graduate Research for his works about Pervis Payne and The Innocence Project.

Oakley is thrilled to continue teaching at his alma mater, considering it both a privilege and a joy to be in the classroom with the future leaders of the industry. Despite being homeschooled from K-12, he was deeply influenced by many teachers who shaped his path. As an adjunct professor, he sees his role as an opportunity to #PEYitforward, honoring the positive impact educators have had on his life.