PRSA NCC announces 2025 leadership; Crystal Borde named president

The Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter (PRSA NCC) announced its incoming leaders for 2025. The 2025 board will be led by Crystal Borde, Vice President and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practice Lead at Vanguard Communications.

Borde has been a PRSA NCC member for more than 18 years, serving as the co-committee chair of the chapter’s DEI Committee and holding the position of Director on the Board since 2020. For more than 20 years, states a release, she has counseled organizations on better communicating their DEI values and actions within their organizations and communities to be more inclusive and equitable and ensuring that audiences are accurately and fairly represented in strategic communications planning, implementation and evaluation. Borde has worked with non-profit organizations, government agencies, foundations, associations and educational institutions in the areas of health, wellness, energy, environment, education and DEI to foster healthy communities and a thriving planet.

In 2021, Borde was recognized by Ragan and PR Daily as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion Honoree in the Top Women in Communications Awards and named by PR News as a Top Woman in PR Changemaker Honoree. PRSA NCC recognized Borde with the Diamond Award (2022) and Rising Star Award (2021) for her contributions to the chapter. Her thought leadership about DEI communication strategies and approaches has been published in Bulldog Reporter and PRSA’s PRSay blog and featured in industry panel events, university lectures and conference workshops.

The 2025 PRSA NCC Board of Directors are:

President

• Crystal Borde, Vice President and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practice Lead, Vanguard Communications

President-Elect

• Patricia Hernandez, PhD, Communication Program Assistant Director, Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs

Treasurer

• Alicia S. Davidson, Corporate Marketing and Communications, Barbaricum

Secretary

• Megan Sweeney, Public Relations Director, American Staffing Association

Vice-President, Two-Year Term

• Erika Boenisch, Strategic Advisor, U.S. Air Force
• Mark Erwin, APR, Owner, Erwin Consulting

Vice-President, One-Year Term

• Jennifer Strohm, MA, APR, Senior Director, Public Relations, Fors Marsh

Two-Year Directors

• Julia Burgos, MPS, Chief of School and Community Relations, Alexandria City Public Schools
• Lisa Chensvold, Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications, Opportunity Finance Network
• Kelley Karnes, MBA, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Council of Graduate Schools
• Carol Wilkerson, Director of Media Relations, Howard University

One-Year Directors

• Denise Douglas, Director of Communications, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office
• Nick Lagalante, MPS, Director, Global Corporate Communications, Tenable
• Maliha Shaikh, MPS, Strategic Communications Consultant and Advisor, Shaikh Communications Services

Immediate Past President

•       Karin Drinkhall, APR, PMP, Director of Communications, CNA Corporation