A Michigan State University research project led by Department of Advertising and Public Relations faculty member Chuqing Dong, with support from an undergraduate research assistant, has received international recognition in the field of public relations.
The International Public Relations Research Conference honored a paper by Chuqing Dong, assistant professor in ADPR, with the Best Paper on the conference theme “Research Relevant to the PR Profession.” The award was presented during the conference’s 29th annual meeting, held March 4–7 in Orlando, Florida.
Dong’s paper, “Learning from the Marginalized: Rethinking Public Relations through Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-serving Nonprofits’ Lived Practices,” was co-authored with Kassidy Do, an undergraduate student majoring in public relations in the college.
AAPI communities in the U.S. have faced long-standing marginalization and exclusion, and they often rely on nonprofit organizations for advocacy, social services, cultural representation, and community support. However, scholarly research on AAPI-serving nonprofit organizations remains limited. Through more than 30 interviews with practitioners and communicators in nonprofits serving AAPI communities, this research aims to understand how these organizations navigate complex stakeholder relationships and practice public relations in marginalized community contexts, positioning these organizations as important sources of professional knowledge for the broader field.
“By highlighting the lived communication practices of AAPI-serving nonprofits, this research positions AAPI-serving nonprofits as important sources of professional knowledge and expertise in public relations,” Dong said. “Their experiences offer insights that can help the field of public relations move toward more authentic, inclusive, and socially impactful approaches.”
The theme award recognizes scholarship that demonstrates strong relevance to professional public relations practice. The International Public Relations Research Conference, established in 1998, brings together leading scholars and industry professionals from around the world to discuss research that informs the profession.
The project also reflects a notable undergraduate research collaboration. While undergraduate students rarely present research at international academic conferences, Do contributed to the project after working with Dong as a research assistant for the past two years.
Her participation underscores the College of Communication Arts and Sciences’ emphasis on experiential learning and research mentorship within the public relations program.
The research was supported by the college’s Creative Incubator and Accelerator (CRCIA) Seed Grant, awarded to Dong in 2023. The conference recognition highlights how internal research funding can help faculty develop projects that generate national and international visibility while addressing important issues in communication, including diversity, equity, and representation.