Department Chair Associate Professor of Public Relations
Michelle Ouellette, APR, has focused her research on crisis response, social media
and the role of emotion in effective communications. Currently, she is working to
explore awe and its impact on education, as well as the power of mind-body connections
in helping communicators navigate a crisis-ridden world.
As part of her teaching, she has led students in numerous hands-on campaign efforts,
promoting mental health, diversity efforts and causes like Special Olympics.
Previously, as the public relations director for both SUNY Plattsburgh and Essex County
ARC, she took the communications lead on a number of crises, including deaths, protests,
union battles and a CEO’s suicide.
Ouellette, M. (2019) Higher Ed, Social Media and an Era of Emergencies: Tools for Managing Communication
Minefields. Journal of Education Advancement and Marketing, 4(2), 165-174. (Peer-reviewed.)
Ouellette, M. (2017) Helping Leaders Avoid Crisis with Empathy, Gratitude and Generosity. 25(3),
12-13. The Strategist, Fall 2017.
Ouellette, M. (2015) Prison Break: The Truth About Crisis Communications in a Social World. The Strategist 21(3), 6-9.
Ouellette, M., and Krolak, S. (2025, June 5) Beyond crisis comms: takeaways from trauma research [Conference session]. State University of New York Council for University Advancement
Conference, Rochester, New York, United States.
Ouellette, M., Marasch, M.J., McCoy Coleman, K., Christy, A., Paxton, J., Parmeter, C., and Yang,
B. (2024, March 14). The awe-some potential of reciprocal recovery: the small self as a salve for our souls
in troubling times [Conference session]. Mediterranean Regional Counselors Association 2024 Conference,
Weisloch, Germany.
Ouellette, M. & Jurek, R. (2020, April 19). Anger, Politics and Twitter During an Immigration Influx [Paper presentation], Broadcast Educators Association Conference, online.
Ouellette, M. (2019, June 12-14). Managing Minefields [Conference session], State University of New York Council for University Advancement
Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY, United States.
Ouellette, M. (2018, Nov. 18) From the Border: Social Media Narratives on Immigration [Paper presentation], American Anthropological Association 2018 Conference, San Jose,CA,
United States.
Ouellette, M. (2018, April 12). Are You Listening? [Conference session]. The Public Relations Society of America Counselors to Higher
Education Senior Summit, Nashville, TN, United States.
Ouellette, M. (2017, Oct. 12). Managing Chaos: Social Media Activism. New York State School Board Association Conference, Lake Placid, NY, USA.
Judge, Public Relations Society of America awards competitions, Memphis, 2017, and
Hampton Roads, 2018, PRSA North Carolina, 2021.
Adviser to students’ Committing to Conversations Campaign, winner of the Vice President
for Student Affairs Special Award, Spring 2019.
Fellow, Institute for Ethics in Public Life, Fall 2018.
Recipient, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, State University of New
York, Spring 2018.
Adviser to students’ Homecoming Bonfire campaign that received a Judges Citation from
the SUNY Council for University Advancement, June 2017.
Adviser to Cardinal PR campaign that received RADIUS Award, for dedication and ongoing
support for inclusion and the celebration of diversity at SUNY Plattsburgh, Spring
2016.
Adviser to student Give A Buck campaign design team that won Best in Category Award
for Innovations in Fundraising, Development Programs and Fundraising Publications
from the SUNY Council for University Advancement, Spring 2016.
Recipient, accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Student Society
of America and the Universal Accreditation Board.
Recipient, Excellence in Internal Communications — Internal Communications Vehicle
from the SUNY’s Council for University Advancement as part of the team that developed
the wall publicizing the campus plan in the Angell College Center, Spring 2014.
Recipient, Best Fundraising Publication Series Award from the State University of
New York Council for University Advancement as leader of the team, principal writer
and editor of a series of print publications for the college’s capital campaign, spring
2012.
Creating Conscious Communities Award from the Red Hummingbird Society, Spring 2010.
