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Pictured is Camille Downing. Photo | John Altdorfer

Lecturer

Contact Information

Education

  • M.A., Journalism and Mass Communication, Point Park University
  • B.S., Business Communications, Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Courses Taught

  • Public Relations
  • Social Media Crisis Communications
  • PR Writing 
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Nonprofit Public Relations
  • Media Relations
  • Freelance Communications

Background

Camille Downing has been an adjunct associate professor at Point Park since 1998 and became a full-time lecturer in 2015. In her role, Downing acts as a professional-in-residence in the School of Communication, where she teaches public relations and integrated marketing communications courses while continuing her work as the president of Downing Communications, an independent consultancy that specializes in non-profit public relations and marketing communications. Her clients have included numerous hospitals, universities and social service agencies in Pittsburgh and across the state. As a communications professional with more than 30 years of experience in all facets of strategic communications planning and implementation, Downing brings a unique blend of talent and expertise to both the classroom and the board room.

Downing was a board member for PRSA Pittsburgh, serving as its student liaison. Additionally, she has been actively involved in the International Association of Business Communicators for more than 25 years serving in leadership roles at the local, regional and international level. She helped found the IABC Heritage Region, which incorporates 19 chapters in the northeast and Midwestern part of the United States, and served as the region's first regional director. She was the co-chair of the IABC Heritage Region Conference for three years and served in a leadership role for the conference for 12 years. 

Downing lives in Hampton with her husband, Joe. They have a daughter, Sierra, who attended Westminster College, and a son, Alex, who attended American University for his undergraduate degree and Point Park University for his master's degree.

Adviser

  • PRSSA

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Public Relations Society of America
  • Member, Educators Academy, Public Relations Society of America
  • Pittsburgh Chapter, International Association of Business Communicators
  • Heritage Region Board, International Association of Business Communicators
  • Poster Presentation, 2017 Public Relations Student Society of America National Conference
  • Former Member, International Association of Business Communicators National Executive Board

Professional Awards

  • Renaissance Award of Excellence, Annual Report/Capabilities, Public Relations Society of America
  • Renaissance Award of Merit, Marking Communications (Business to Consumer), Public Relations Society of America
  • Award of Honor, Publications, IABC District 3 (East Coast region)
  • Silver Quill Award of Excellence, Publications, IABC Heritage Region
  • Excellence (3), Publications, IABC Golden Triangle Awards
  • Award of Excellence (2), Writing, IABC Golden Triangle Awards
  • Award of Honor (5), Publications, IABC Golden Triangle Awards
  • Award of Merit (3), Publications, Public Relations Society of America
  • Award of Merit (2), Publications, Women in Communications
  • Award of Excellence, Publications, Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
  • Award of Honor, Publications, Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
  • Award of Excellence, Publications, Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials
  • Superior Award, Special Events, Hospital Association of Pennsylvania
  • Meritous Award, Publications, Hospital Association of Pennsylvania

Publication

  • Downing, C. & Lo Castro, J. (2021). Integrated Marketing Communication. In T. Gillis (Ed.), The IABC Guide for Practical Business Communication: A Global Standard Primer. International Association of Business Communicators. 

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