State of the Industry—PR Trends, Challenges & Opportunities
April 7, 2026 | 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Dr. Michelle C. Loris ’70 Forum | Martire Center for the Liberal Arts
From AI to trust and the future of communications, the PR industry is at a turning point. Join us for a dynamic evening of insight and discussion featuring a keynote from Edelman’s Brian Buchwald, followed by a live panel conversation with industry leaders who will share practical perspectives on current PR topics. Free and open to all, but registration is required.
Agenda
| Time | Schedule |
|---|---|
| 5:30 p.m. | Registration and reception |
| 6:30 p.m. | Keynote speaker |
| 7:15 p.m. | Panel discussion and Q&As |
| 8 p.m. | Networking & guided tour of the School of Communication, Media & the Arts |
Keynote Speaker: Brian Buchwald
Brian Buchwald is president of global transformation and performance at Edelman, where he leads the modernization of the firm’s global service delivery model. He’s working to advance Edelman’s innovation agenda, as the firm accelerates the integration of AI and technology. Since joining the firm in 2022, he has played a central role in expanding Edelman’s trust products and was named global chair of product and AI, helping position the firm as a leader in applying AI to communications through global product, data and AI strategy.
A high-energy, creative leader, Buchwald brings deep expertise in data analytics, business intelligence and scaling ventures across B2B and consumer markets. Prior to Edelman, he served as chief strategy and business development officer at Talkwalker and held senior leadership roles at Weber Shandwick. He is a co-founder of BOMODA and Hulu and has held executive roles at NBCUniversal and DoubleClick.
A frequent media commentator, his insights have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and Business Insider. He regularly appears on CNBC and Bloomberg News to discuss AI, data and consumer behavior.
More Information
For questions about the event, contact Foluke Omosun, Ph.D., assistant professor and director, strategic communication & public relations graduate program.