1. Richmond University announces appointment of
new communications professor
From corporate PR to headhunting, Richmond’s newest professor has industry
insight students need
RICHMOND,September20,2016 – CEO and founderof SPELL Communications,LauraPetty,hasbeenappointedas the
newestprofessortoRichmond,The AmericanInternationalUniversityInLondon’s,Kensingtoncampus. Startingon
Tuesday,September20th
,Pettywill be instructingapostgraduate course inpublicrelationspractice andan
undergraduate course incorporate communicationssimultaneously.
Petty isa formerCorporate PR professionalturnedspecialistcommunicationsmatchmaker andhasover10 years’
experience inthe PRindustry, includinglecturingexperience inPublicRelationsandAdvertisingatthe Universityof
Westminster. Petty,aCanadiannative,haspreviouslyworkedwithHuntsworth,Grayling,UNICEFandSermelo –
obtainingextensive experience incorporate andcrisiscommunications. While Pettyexpectstolecture atRichmond
“indefinitely,”she’ll concurrently continue workingon SPELLCommunicationsandasa recruitmentheadhunterat
BoldMove.
Regarding Richmond’sFaculty, UniversityPresidentJohnAnnette said:
“Our culturally diverse faculty bring their international training and experience into the classroom. In
combination with the international outlook and intercultural backgrounds of our students, this means that the
Richmond classroom is a dynamic space for fruitful debate. ”
On her appointmentand past experiences, Pettysaid:
She chose Richmondfora multitude of reasons,including“the caliberof students,integrityof the program, integrityof
some of the professors,the international base [the universityprovides] andclasssize.”
While Pettybelievesherbestskillsare “clientrelationsandcommunications”she saysshe initially“fell intoteaching.”
“The firstdayI lecturedat Universityof Westminsterundergraduateprogram, Iwalkedintothe classroominheels,”said
Petty.“I’ve walkedintoboardroomswithveryseriousmeninsuits,butIwalkedintothisclassroomandwasshaking,I
was terrified …buthalfwaythroughIfell inlove,”Pettysaid.
“In PR youare alwayslearning,that’ssomethingthatI love aboutPublicRelations”explainedPetty.“Youlearnabout
newsubjects,newtrends,new thingsonsocial media –whateveritmightbe you’re alwayslearning.”
In regardsto teaching,“there mightbe somethingthatIsay that will help[students]careersorgive [students] ideas
aboutwhat [they] actuallywanttodo” saidPetty.“That’salsowhyI like recruitment, it’smuchmore like amatch
makingservice,it’swhoshouldfitwithwho.”

2. While continuingteaching,Petty someday aspirestoundertake ‘The Elders’ aninternational non-governmental
organizationof publicfiguresnotedaselder statesmen, peace activists,andhumanrightsadvocates,whowere brought
togetherbyNelsonMandelain2007, as a future client.The organizationinspiresPettydue totheir“usingwhatthey
knowand notlettingitgo to waste,”while “makingthe worldabitbetter.”
Please findimagesof LauraPettyattached.Formore informationonPettyorRichmondUniversity,email
000089051@richmond.ac.uk.
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ABOUT RICHMOND:
Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. AtRichmondwe provide education which encourages
exploration of a wide range of subjects and programs. It is designed to allow the discovery of the connections
between different academic areas such as literature, science, mathematics, writing, business, psyc hology and
sociology. It is a broad based education, an ideal preparation for a range of careers. Learn more at:
www.richmond.ac.uk
PRESS CONTACT:
Name: AshleyPhillips
Mobile: 1-845-699-0292
Email: 000089051@richmond.ac.uk