PRMuseum Opens Applications for Third Annual NextGen Awards Program
(Left to Right): Patreon’s Adiya Taylor; Citi’s Sabrina Browne, Highwire’s Martin Bradshaw, Zeno’s Jocelyn Arellano, and Target’s Luisa Tejada. (Photo Credit: Erica Berger)
The Museum of Public Relations, in partnership with PRWeek, is now accepting applications for the third annual PRMuseum NextGen Awards program, an initiative designed to elevate diverse, emerging voices in the public relations industry.
Now entering its third year, the program is open to professionals with fewer than ten years of experience and reflects PRMuseum’s commitment to inclusion, mentorship, and career development across the field.
Five individuals will be selected for the 2026 class. Each will receive a full year of mentorship from senior industry leaders, including David Brown, Ray Day, Dustee Jenkins, Stacey Jones, and Oscar Suris.
Winners will also be recognized on stage at the PRWeek 40 Under 40 Awards ceremony this October, offering both visibility and industry-wide recognition.
Candidates must be nominated by supervisors, mentors, or senior colleagues, with applications available through the PRMuseum website. Submissions will be evaluated based on resilience, leadership potential, intellectual curiosity, and demonstrated achievement, particularly in overcoming personal or professional challenges.
“PRMuseum NextGen is about opening doors, creating access, and ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed,” said Shelley Spector. “The future of our profession depends on the diversity of voices and ideas from young professionals today.”
Awards are named in honor of trailblazers whose contributions have not always received full recognition, including Bayard Rustin, Inez Kaiser, Wilma Mankiller, Lynne Choy Uyeda, and Esther Renteria.
Over the past two years, program alumni have gained one-on-one mentorship with senior executives, along with increased recognition within their organizations and across the broader communications industry.
