PRSA

PRSA

National Capital Chapter

PRSA NCC Announces 2025 Leadership

WASHINGTON (November 13, 2024) – The Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter (PRSA NCC) announced its incoming leaders for 2025. The 2025 board will be led by Crystal Borde, Vice President and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practice Lead at Vanguard Communications.

“I’m honored to lead PRSA NCC in 2025 as we prepare to host PRSA’s flagship international conference, ICON 2025, right here in the heart of our nation’s capital in October,” said Borde. “Alongside the dynamic 2025 Board of Directors, I’m committed to making this a transformative year—one that strengthens our DC Metro Area public relations, communications and marketing communities and offers impactful learning and networking opportunities that inspire and elevate our PRSA NCC membership.”

Borde has been a PRSA NCC member for more than 18 years, serving as the co-committee chair of the chapter’s DEI Committee and holding the position of Director on the Board since 2020. For more than 20 years, she has counseled organizations on better communicating their DEI values and actions within their organizations and communities to be more inclusive and equitable and ensuring that audiences are accurately and fairly represented in strategic communications planning, implementation and evaluation. Borde has worked with non-profit organizations, government agencies, foundations, associations and educational institutions in the areas of health, wellness, energy, environment, education and DEI to foster healthy communities and a thriving planet.

In 2021, Borde was recognized by Ragan and PR Daily as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion Honoree in the Top Women in Communications Awards and named by PR News as a Top Woman in PR Changemaker Honoree. PRSA NCC recognized Borde with the Diamond Award (2022) and Rising Star Award (2021) for her contributions to the chapter. Her thought leadership about DEI communication strategies and approaches has been published in Bulldog Reporter and PRSA’s PRSay blog and featured in industry panel events, university lectures and conference workshops.

PRSA NCC, one of the nation’s largest and most active PRSA chapters, empowers its members through a diverse array of professional development programs, networking events, and leadership opportunities. The 2025 Board of Directors sets the Chapter’s strategic direction and oversees local programming spanning across professional and networking development events, membership, sponsorships, DEI, ethics, university relations, pro bono services, marketing, and Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credentialing.

The 2025 PRSA NCC Board of Directors are:

President

  • Crystal Borde, Vice President and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practice Lead, Vanguard Communications

President-Elect

  • Patricia Hernandez, PhD, Communication Program Assistant Director, Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs

Treasurer

  • Alicia S. Davidson, Corporate Marketing and Communications, Barbaricum

Secretary

  • Megan Sweeney, Public Relations Director, American Staffing Association

Vice-President, Two-Year Term

  • Erika Boenisch, Strategic Advisor, U.S. Air Force
  • Mark Erwin, APR, Owner, Erwin Consulting

Vice-President, One-Year Term

  • Jennifer Strohm, MA, APR, Senior Director, Public Relations, Fors Marsh

Two-Year Directors

  • Julia Burgos, MPS, Chief of School and Community Relations, Alexandria City Public Schools
  • Lisa Chensvold, Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications, Opportunity Finance Network
  • Kelley Karnes, MBA, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Council of Graduate Schools
  • Carol Wilkerson, Director of Media Relations, Howard University

One-Year Directors

  • Denise Douglas, Director of Communications, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office
  • Nick Lagalante, MPS, Director, Global Corporate Communications, Tenable
  • Maliha Shaikh, MPS, Strategic Communications Consultant and Advisor, Shaikh Communications Services

Immediate Past President

  •       Karin Drinkhall, APR, PMP, Director of Communications, CNA Corporation 

About PRSA National Capital Chapter

The PRSA National Capital Chapter (PRSA NCC) is an association of communications professionals in the Metropolitan Washington region. As the largest PRSA chapter in the country, NCC advances the local communications profession by fostering collaboration, enhancing knowledge and skills and creating connections through robust, up-to-date, and inclusive educational, networking, and professional growth opportunities. For more information, please visit prsancc.org, or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Join in the conversation by using the hashtag, #PRSANCC