Kim Marks Malone, APR, Fellow PRSA receives Steve and Linda Simon Family Fellowship

May 7, 2021 – Kim Marks Malone, APR, Fellow PRSA, online program coordinator and PR instructor, has been awarded the Steve and Linda Simon Family Fellowship for 2021-24.

The Simon Family Fellowship is the University's first fellowship dedicated to a public relations faculty member. It honors the late SSPR founder Steve Simon and is awarded to an outstanding early career public relations faculty member in the Department of Journalism and Strategic Media. The Simon Fellow may use the funds for key initiatives such as student public relations projects and initiatives, academic-related travel and professional development.

Marks Malone heads the public relations major and is the faculty adviser for the student-run strategic communication firm, Meeman 901 Strategies.

"Since joining the department in 2015 Marks Malone has made many indispensable contributions, in particular redeveloping both the on-campus and online public relations curriculum and building out Meeman 901 Strategies," said Dr. David Arant, chair of Journalism and Strategic Media. "Her dynamic leadership in public relations goes well beyond her work in the department, as her influence extends to her work with both local and national public relations professionals.”

In addition to coordinating the department’s online PR major, she teaches a variety of courses including: Intro to Public Relations, Public Relations Writing, Crisis Communication, Applied PR Writing, PR Research, PR Campaigns, Event Planning and Media Relations. She also spearheaded the development of a new area of concentration for the PR major, Strategic Social Media, and three new courses for the program. She is a role model and mentor for her students and relates class material to her real-world experiences.

Marks Malone earned her BA in communication from Roger Williams University and a MA in Mass Communication & Media Studies from San Diego State University and is active in the professional community, serving on the Executive Boards of the Memphis Chapter and Southeast District of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Before joining the University of Memphis, Marks Malone had a distinguished, nearly 30-year career as a U.S. Navy public affairs officer.