Tom Hagley

In his retirement, following 10 years of teaching at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, Tom has pursued a continuing interest in supporting students and entry-professionals with the publication of two books: The Public Relations Student Playbook, selected by BookAuthority as one of the best new public relations books to read in 2020, and a third edition of Writing Winning Proposals: Public Relations Cases. The Playbook cuts to the quick in the style of posts and blogs to provide an unvarnished look at the profession, sharing with students wisdom acquired from 10 years in the classroom and 30 years in practice. Writing Winning Proposals departs from traditional classroom and professional practice in writing public relations plans to show what clients actually want in plans and how they want to get it.

As senior instructor of public relations retired, he taught more than 50 classes in public relations writing, planning and developing campaigns to a total enrollment of more than 1,000 students over 10 years. He was nominated by students and selected by a committee of emeritus faculty members for the Jonathan Marshall Award in 2007, which was presented with a stipend of $2,000 for innovative teaching in journalism and communication. In 2020 an award was established in his name by the Washington State University—Vancouver faculty to be presented each year to the best student team in Integrated Strategic Communication. He is known nationally with eight feature articles in PRSA's magazine, The Strategist.

Prior to teaching, Tom was director of public and investor relations for Alumax, Inc., the nation’s third largest aluminum producer, for 10 years and title sponsorship manager of an Indy race car team; a private consultant, four years; vice president and Portland, Oregon, office manager for the worldwide PR firm, Hill & Knowlton, two years; in progressive positions to Northwest public relations manager for ALCOA, 13 years; publications editor for Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., 18 months; and general assignment reporter for The Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s metropolitan newspaper.