About the Senior Practitioner Outreach Chair

Allison Peiritsch, Associate Professor, Slippery Rock University

Allison Peiritsch (pron: pie-rich) is an associate professor at Slippery Rock University and has worked in public relations and marketing communication for 30 years. Dr. Peiritsch is faculty adviser to Rock PRSSA, Slippery Rock University’s student-run PR and marketing communication firm, which also was named PRSA Pittsburgh’s 2025 PRSSA Chapter of the Year. She has been part of PRSA Pittsburgh’s board of directors in a number of roles over the last 20 years.

At Slippery Rock University, Dr. Peiritsch’s pragmatic approach to teaching focuses on career readiness, informed by 18 years of professional experience in PR and media relations in agency, corporate and non-profit settings. Most recently, she was a senior vice president and media relations strategist at Ketchum, a top-five global PR and marketing communication agency, where she worked for 13 years.

Dr. Peiritsch brings her professional experience into the classroom where she teaches courses in strategic planning, strategic writing, media relations, campaign development and career preparation. She also has led five international public relations and marketing communication immersion trips to Denmark, Sweden and Spain.

She was a 2023 nominee for the university’s President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Advising; a 2022 nominee for the university’s Women and Ally of Distinction Award; and a 2019 finalist and College of Business representative for the university’s President’s Award for Teaching Excellence. She also is a former co-chair and an active member of the university’s President’s Commission for Disability Issues, and she has served in an advisory capacity to the University Marketing and Communication Department.

Beyond Slippery Rock University, Dr. Peiritsch also is a member of the National Communication Association and the 2022-23 president of the New York State Communication Association.