Olivia Truban, Ph.D., APR
Dr. Olivia Truban, Ph.D., APR, is a public relations professional based in Richmond, Virginia, with a passion for strategic communication and crisis management. She currently serves as the Communications and Marketing Coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she manages stakeholder communication, organizational and social listening practices, and social media strategy, while also teaching public relations courses. In addition, she maintains an active freelance consulting practice through Truban Consulting Group, LLC, helping organizations with public relations practices, notably crisis management.
Olivia began her professional journey at a healthcare and health policy public relations agency, where she built foundational expertise in crisis communication and organizational strategy. She earned a B.A. in Communication from James Madison University, an M.A. in Communication with concentrations in health communication and public relations from Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs, and a Ph.D. in Communication, with a focus on strategic communication and public relations, from the University of Maryland. Her doctoral research proposed a new survivalist paradigm of internal public relations, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful relationships with internal stakeholders to foster organizational resilience.
Beyond her professional work, Olivia is an adjunct professor at multiple universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Northern Virginia Community College. She also holds the APR (Accredited in Public Relations) credential from the Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She is also the co-editor/co-author of an upcoming book on the value of strategic banter in public relations, reflecting her dedication to advancing scholarship in the field. Outside her professional life, Olivia is a devoted cat mom, volunteers with the Richmond Animal League, and enjoys oil painting and animal rehabilitation.
• APR
• University of Maryland - PhD
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Public Relations Society of America
• Richmond Animal League Inc
What do you attribute your success to?
Dedication, hard work, and getting cats.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Know your audience.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you believe in yourself, others will too. Don't let uncertainty hold you back from speaking up or taking on new challenges. Every moment is a chance to grow and make your presence known in the field.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenge: Dealing with the ethical considerations of AI is a challenge because public relations is a human-focused, relationship-building practice.
Opportunity: Social media is a living ecosystem in my mind, and there are many ways to learn best practices in the field through social listening (e.g., media monitoring). It's important to be looped into the environment you want to be a part of.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say, especially in public relations, you have to lead with an ethic of care. Ethics is fundamental - you have to lead with ethical considerations. You also have to be accountable and transparent.
Locations
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA 23232