New York, NY – The Institute for Public Relations (IPR) Board of Trustees has two leadership updates for 2025:
Dr. Mathew Isaac: Director of IPR Behavioral Insights Research Center
The IPR Board has elected Dr. Mathew Isaac, Professor, Chair of the Department of Marketing, and Thomas F. Gleed Chair of Business Administration at Seattle University, as the new Director for the IPR Behavioral Insights Research Center (BIRC).
The mission of the IPR BIRC is to conduct research on the factors that influence attitude and behavioral change to enable effective communication. Dr. Isaac will help guide the mission, research, and strategy of the IPR BIRC, focusing on research and initiatives that align with priorities set by the IPR Board of Trustees.
“Dr. Isaac has published some of the most interesting research delving into how stakeholder attributes and attitudes, as well as information presentation impact behavior,” said IPR President and CEO Tina McCorkindale, Ph.D., APR. “His vision and expertise will help undoubtedly advance the work of BIRC.”
Dr. Isaac obtained his Ph.D. in Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. At the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University, he conducts research on consumer judgment and decision-making. Dr. Isaac is particularly interested in understanding how individuals make inferences about communicators’ motives, and how numerical information affects consumer evaluations and decisions. His work has been published in leading scientific journals and featured widely in business and the popular press, including Harvard Business Review, Time, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and Fast Company. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Isaac advised media, healthcare, and private equity clients as a Consultant and Manager for Bain & Company and ZS Associates. He writes a blog on numerical cognition for Psychology Today
IPR Trustee Dave Scholz, Chief Strategy Officer of Leger, ended his two-year term as Director of BIRC in December. He helped expand the Center and lead major IPR initiatives, such as IPR’s work on disinformation. He will continue to serve as a member of BIRC.
Janine Saverese: Chair of IPR ELEVATE
Janine Saverese, CEO of NextTech Communications, will serve as the 2025 IPR ELEVATE Chair after serving as vice chair for two years. IPR ELEVATE is a diverse and select membership community of high-achieving leaders who are catalysts for growth, change, and innovation through the support of the insights-focused mission of IPR.
“As one of our inaugural members, Janine brings passion and dedication to IPR ELEVATE and the future of our industry,” said McCorkindale. “Her leadership and vision will be instrumental in helping IPR expand and grow IPR ELEVATE.”
“I am honored to have been selected for the role of IPR Chair and am looking forward to advancing our mission to promote research-based insights in PR and communications, ” said Savarese. “In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, where misinformation can spread quickly and stakeholder expectations are higher than ever, leveraging research and evidence-based insights ensures public relations and corporate communication strategies are not only credible but also effective and aligned with organizational goals.”
Janine has more than 25 years of experience in strategic public relations and marketing. With a focus on storytelling, Janine has developed communications strategies for major companies, brands, and thought leaders across industries, including technology, healthcare, financial services, professional services, and education. Prior to founding her own consultancy – which was later launched as NextTech Communications as part of The Bliss Group – Janine served as the Executive Managing Director of Public Affairs for New York University’s Stern School of Business, where she spearheaded PR campaigns for the school’s dean, faculty, and centers covering the economy, entrepreneurship, finance, fintech, leadership, marketing, management, workplace diversity, and sustainable business. In 2023 Janine was named one of 23 people recognized in the “The Mentors” category for PRNews’ 2023 People of the Year award for her extraordinary leadership and ability to guide and motivate her colleagues.
IPR ELEVATE Member Jenn Francis, Corporate Communications Leader at Accenture, ended her two-year term as Chair in December. She helped foster a strong sense of community with the current 65+ members. She will continue to serve as an Immediate Past Chair of IPR ELEVATE.
In 2025, IPR ELEVATE will expand and provide even more engagement opportunities, including the third annual Ascend with ELEVATE retreat slated for October 2025. New candidates can take advantage of the programs and opportunities that IPR ELEVATE offers by submitting their applications on the IPR website. Learn more about IPR ELEVATE here.
About the IPR Behavioral Insights Research Center
The mission of the IPR Behavioral Insights Research Center is to conduct research on the factors that influence attitude and behavioral change to enable effective communication. BIRC can help professionals understand how and why people think and behave the way they do in this ever-changing business environment. Research areas include how to better understand the influence of cognitive neuroscience, behavioral economics, social psychology and narrative theory to positively influence the study and practice of public relations
About the Institute for Public Relations
Founded in 1956, the Institute for Public Relations is an independent, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the science beneath the art of public relations®. IPR creates, curates, and promotes research and initiatives that empower professionals with actionable insights and intelligence they can put to immediate use. IPR predicts and analyzes global factors transforming the profession and amplifies and engages the professional globally through thought leadership and programming. All research is available free at www.instituteforpr.org and provides the basis for IPR’s professional conferences and events.