A Ball State public relations professor will honored in November for his contributions to his field.
    
Melvin Sharpe, a professor of journalism, will receive the Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Nov. 12-14 during the organization's national convention in Salt Lake City.

This award is named in honor of the late Patrick Jackson, one of the most widely known and respected practitioners in the public relations profession. The award recognizes a member who has significantly contributed to advancing PRSA from the chapter to national levels as well as advanced the organization by inspiring fellow practitioners professionally and personally.

Sharpe started at Ball State in 1981 as coordinator for bachelor and master's degree programs in public relations. Under his direction, the Ball State public relations program was ranked sixth in the nation and named one of the top 25 "premier" public relations educational programs nationally.

His honors include installation into the Ball State Journalism Hall of Fame, Ball State's Outstanding Faculty Service Award, the Indiana School Public Relation Association Award of Excellence, the Hoosier Chapter "Outstanding Professional Service Award" and four national PRSA presidential citations.