As an associate professor at Slippery Rock University, I bring more than 30 years of public relations and integrated marketing communication experience from agency, corporate and nonprofit settings into the classroom. My teaching focuses on career readiness, strategic thinking and real-world client experience, helping students bridge the gap between academic study and professional practice.
Before entering academia, I served as a senior vice president at Ketchum, one of the world’s leading global PR agencies. There, I developed national media strategies and secured coverage for major clients in outlets, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, Dow Jones and the Today Show. I was also a member of the agency’s Global Media Network and helped lead Ketchum University, developing media relations training delivered to offices across six continents.
At Slippery Rock University, I teach courses including Introduction to PR and IMC, Case Studies in PR and IMC, Media Relations & Crisis Communication, PR & IMC Writing, Senior Capstone Seminar and PR & IMC Campaigns Capstone. Through the campaigns capstone course, students have partnered with nearly 80 businesses and nonprofit organizations to develop strategic communication campaigns.
In addition to my faculty role, I serve as the communication and innovation coordinator for the Haverlack College of Business. In this role, I lead communication initiatives that connect faculty, students, alumni and external partners and help create applied learning opportunities for students.
Experiential learning is central to my approach. I have led PR and IMC immersion trips to Denmark, Sweden and Spain, connecting classroom learning to communication practice in global settings. I also serve as faculty adviser to Rock PRSSA, the university’s student-run PR and marketing communication organization, which was named PRSA Pittsburgh’s Chapter of the Year in 2025 and 2026.
My scholarship explores the rhetoric of PR and IMC, crisis communication, brand marketing and brand activism, and I remain engaged with the profession through research, professional service and my role on the PRSA Pittsburgh board.
Earlier in my career, I served as manager of public/media relations for Rite Aid Corporation and director of communication for the Pennsylvania Gas Association, both in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Associate Professor
Eisenberg 213K
allison.peiritsch@sru.edu
724.738.4075
Student Consultation Hours:
Monday: 9 a.m.-noon (via Zoom)
Wednesday: 2:30-3:30 p.m. (213K ECB)
Tuesday and Thursday: 3:30-4 p.m. (213K ECB)
Zoom: https://sru.zoom.us/j/6845331617
