KiYong Kim

KiYong Kim, DSC, APR, is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona who brings a career in leadership, communication, and organizational change to the study and practice of public relations.

His professional background spans nonprofit, agency, and mission-driven organizations, where he has led research-driven communication initiatives, advised executive and senior leaders, managed cross-functional and international teams, and supported organizational change through internal communication, training, and leadership development.

That leadership experience directly shapes his academic work in public relations and strategic communication. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, KiYong taught undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations management, research, ethics, leadership, nonprofit communication, crisis and reputation management, and strategic campaign design. His contributions to teaching were recognized with a Teacher of the Year award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

KiYong’s teaching and mentorship reflect a perspective developed through sustained engagement with both scholarship and professional practice. His research, published in peer-reviewed and field-focused journals, examines public relations education, internal communication, crisis communication, and dynamic capabilities. Drawing on this work, he brings a disciplined, research-informed approach to leadership communication, organizational decision-making, and change, translating theory into practical frameworks students apply in applied projects and professional settings.

His impact on students extends beyond individual courses to program-level leadership and development. He served as faculty advisor to a nationally affiliated, student-run public relations agency and helped lead its successful national reaffiliation with the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). He also advised PRSSA student leadership and played a central role in supporting his former institution’s successful accreditation through the Public Relations Society of America’s Certificate in Education for Public Relations (CEPR).

KiYong holds a Doctor of Strategic Communication (DSC) from Regent University and is accredited in public relations (APR). He also holds professional certifications reflecting his applied expertise, including Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner (ADKAR), crisis communication certification through the Public Relations Society of America, and professional fundraising certification through Boston University Metropolitan College.

He is actively engaged in national service to the public relations profession. KiYong serves on a policy and procedures workgroup for the Universal Accreditation Board, is a judge for the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver and Bronze Anvil Awards, and has served as an APR panel judge for the Orange County chapter of PRSA. He previously served on the executive board of the PRSA Educators Academy, contributing to leadership development and professional standards in public relations education.