Juan-Carlos Molleda, the Edwin L. Artzt Dean and professor in the UO’s School of Journalism and Communication, has been named this year’s recipient of a national public relations award.

Molleda will be presented with the Pathfinder Award from the Institute for Public Relations at its Distinguished Lecture and Awards Dinner on Dec. 1 in New York City. He is being recognized for his “sustained contributions to the field of public relations” through research, education and leadership.

“I couldn’t have received this lifetime achievement award without the support of my family, mentors, friends, leaders of the industry, and institutions that have believed in me since I came to this country 28 years ago,” Molleda said. “I would like to dedicate this recognition to my U.S. Hispanic and Latin American colleagues who are also making contributions to the body of knowledge and practice of public relations.”

The Pathfinder Award is presented annually to an individual whose published work advances the profession and research community by bridging the two. The award committee —comprising institute trustees, past winners and academic leaders in the field — recognized Molleda’s noteworthy achievements and outstanding research.

“Dr. Molleda has no peer when it comes to public relations scholarship involving Latin America,” said Dr. Donald K. Wright, the Harold Burson Professor of Public Relations in the College of Communication at Boston University. “He continues to produce quality scholarship even while serving as dean at one of the nation’s premier journalism and public relations academic units.”  

Molleda came to the UO in 2016 after 16 years at the University of Florida. He earned a bachelor’s in social communication from Universidad del Zulia in Venezuela in 1990, a master’s in corporate and professional communications from Radford University in Virginia in 1997, and a doctorate in journalism and mass communications with an emphasis on international public relations and international business from the University of South Carolina in 2000.

His research interests are in global corporate public relations management, including coordination and control mechanisms and transnational crises; public relations practices, regulations, professionalism and social roles in Latin America; multisector partnerships creation and maintenance; and the interplay between the construct of authenticity and strategic communication practices.

He also is the author or co-author of several books, numerous book chapters and many papers on international public relations. Since 2014, he has been the co-director of the Latin American Communication Monitor, part of the Global Communication Monitor program organized by the European Public Relations and Research Association.