Marlene Neill, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Journalism, Public Relations and New Media, Graduate Program Director | Baylor University
Waco, TX, UNITED STATES
Professor Neill's research interests include internal communication, public relations management and ethics
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Biography
Marlene Neill, Ph.D., APR, is an associate professor at Baylor University. She teaches courses in public relations and advertising. She also serves as the faculty adviser for the Baylor PRSSA chapter.
Her research interests include public relations management and ethics. She has published research in the following journals: Journal of Mass Media Ethics, Public Relations Review, Journal of Communication Management and Journal of Advertising Education.
Neill is an accredited member of the Central Texas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She served as the chair for the Southwest District of PRSA in 2011. At the national level, Neill served a three-year term on the Universal Accreditation Board, which administers the examination for Accreditation in Public Relations; the Nominating Committee, which selects national board officers in 2012; and was appointed to the Board of Ethics & Professionals Standards in January of 2013.
She received her Ph.D. in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, her Master of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.
Areas of Expertise (8)
Internal / Employee Communication
Integrated Communication
Advertising Management
Public Relations Management
Public Relations Ethics
Strategic Communication Research
Ethics in Public Relations
Ethics in Advertising
Accomplishments (7)
Public Relations Society of America
Accreditation
Member of the Universal Accreditation Board
2008 - 2010
Member of PRSA's Board of Ethics and Professional Standards
2013 - Present
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
2012 Participated in meeting in Chicago to select slate of national officers for 2012
Faculty adviser for Baylor PRSSA chapter
2012 - Present
Education (3)
University of Texas at Austin: Ph.D., Advertising
Dissertation: Seat at the Table(s): An Examination of Senior Public Relations Practitioners' Power and Influence Among Multiple Executive-Level Coalitions
University of Missouri: M.A., Journalism - Strategic Communication
University of Kansas: B.Sc., Journalism - Broadcast News
Links (2)
Media Appearances (10)
Ethics education, practice and theory research grants announced
The Arthur Page Center online
2024-04-16
Rosalynn Vasquez, Ph.D., assistant professor of journalism, public relations and new media at Baylor, is a recipient of a Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar Grant from the Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication for her research project on “Examining the role of PR in communicating ethics training and DEI within organization.” The call on ethics training is being led by Marlene Neill, Ph.D., associate professor at Baylor University and Page Center senior research fellow.
New book reflects on the 'crucibles' that build ethical leaders
The Arthur W. Page Center online
2023-12-20
A new book by Marlene Neill, Ph.D., associate professor of journalism, public relations and new media at Baylor, offers a perspective of public relations leadership that is often overlooked. Instead of only focusing on success stories, Neill’s book shares personal accounts directly from leaders about their real-life challenges, struggles and lessons learned. It also summarizes the ethical implications of these “crucibles” and how they can inspire young communicators to lead with integrity.
Business Review: Model of Leadership
KWBU-FM online
2023-02-02
AUDIO: Marlene Neill, Ph.D., associate professor of journalism, public relations and new media at Baylor, explains how crucible experiences can test, develop and transform leaders.
PRSA Honors Public Relations Professionals For Career Achievements And Contributions To The Profession
PRSA online
2022-11-03
Marlene Neill, Ph.D., associate professor of journalism, public relations and new media and graduate program director at Baylor, received PRSA’s Outstanding Educator Award, which recognizes and celebrates those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of public relations education through college or university teaching.
The Role of Ethical Leadership in Building Influence: A Female Perspective
Ethical Voices online
2022-06-06
AUDIO: Marlene Neill, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, associate professor and graduate program director of journalism, public relations and new media and Juan Meng, Ph.D., associate professor of public relations at the University of Georgia, share insights from their recent journal article, “The Role of Ethical Leadership in Building Influence: Perspectives from Female Public Relations Professionals.”
Making a Great Leader: Servant Leadership and Ethics of Care
Institute for Public Relations online
2022-06-02
Marlene S. Neill, Ph.D., an associate professor of journalism, public relations and new media at Baylor who researches ethics, internal communication and public relations leadership, co-authored a recent study on the concepts of servant leadership and ethics of care, which stress the value of interpersonal relationships, listening to others and empathy and are critical to public relations practice.
"That’s My Idea”
KWBU online
2021-09-02
Marlene Neill, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate program director in the department of journalism, public relations and new media, shares women’s frustrations as employees in a male-dominated workplace.
Managing Up In A Virtual Workplace
Forbes online
2021-07-30
Marlene Neill, Ph.D., associate professor of journalism, public relations and new media, is quoted in this article about the challenges for employees and managers to continue to build and manage relationships from behind a screen.
Trends and challenges revealed in new book about women and leadership in public relations
Agility/PR Solutions online
2021-01-27
Marlene S. Neill, Ph.D., associate professor of journalism, public relations and new media, discusses the challenges faced by women leaders in public relations, the topic of a new book she co-authored.
Coronavirus: What Voices Should We Listen To In These Uncertain Times?
ExpertFile online
2020-03-16
Marlene Neill, Ph.D., APR, associate professor of journalism, public relations and new media, who is an expert on public relations ethics and management and integrated communications, shares some tips to discover which voices to trust and follow during the coronavirus crisis.
Articles (5)
Silent & unprepared: Most millennial practitioners have not embraced role as ethical conscience
Public Relations ReviewMarlene S. Neill, Nancy Weaver
2017-06-01
Millennial public relations practitioners do not feel prepared to offer ethics counsel and do not expect to face ethical dilemmas at work. Through survey research with more than 200 young professionals, statistically significant differences were found regarding perceptions of readiness to offer ethics counsel based on the availability of a mentor, ethics training in college, and ethics training at work. Through the lens of social identity theory, significant differences were found based on familiarity and likelihood to use ethics resources provided by professional associations. Finally, confidence in discussing ethical concerns with their mentor or direct supervisor did impact their likelihood to offer ethics counsel.
Who is responsible for what? Examining strategic roles in social media management
Public Relations ReviewMarlene S Neill, Mia Moody
2015 This study examines the strategic roles associated with social media management through the lens of role theory. By analyzing the responses from participants in two focus groups and a survey of public relations and human resources practitioners, we identified nine strategic roles and the associated responsibilities including policy maker, internal collaborator, technology tester, communications organizer, issues manager, relationship analyzer, master of metrics, policing, and employee recruiter...
PR professionals as organizational conscience
Journal of Mass Media EthicsMarlene S Neill, Minette E Drumwright
2012 Scholars have long asserted that public relations (PR) professionals should play the role of organizational conscience, but little research has focused on why and how they play this role effectively. We found that PR professionals who played the role of organizational conscience had broadened conceptions of their roles and responsibilities, including a fervent duty to the public interest. This often put them in the position of providing criticism to powerful organizational players. Rather than raising their ethical concerns as persuasive ...
Beyond the c-suite: corporate communications’ power and influence
Journal of Communications ManagementMarlene S Neill
2015 The purpose of this paper is to examine what formal executive-level committees senior corporate communications executives are members of and what value they contribute. Design/methodology/approach–The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 30 senior executives at four US companies who discussed corporate communications' involvement in eight strategic issues. Findings–The focus on the C-Suite is too narrow as strategic issues arise at the division level and in executive-level committees.
Functional Silos, Integration & Encroachment: How IMC impacts the Practice of Internal Communication
Public Relations ReviewMarlene S. Neill, Hua Jiang
Some companies and organizations are pursuing joint planning and coordination between internal and external communicators; however, functional silos still appear to be a barrier and concern. Through in-depth interviews with 28 communication executives working in the United States, this study provides evidence that dual oversight of external and internal communication by a senior executive from marketing or corporate communication appears to be a good way to reduce functional silos, but the arrangement can weaken the power and influence of internal communicators. Recommendations and implications for practice are provided.
