Tom Martin to Receive Institute for PR Lifetime Achievement Award

Tom Martin, executive-in-residence in the College of Charleston Department of Communication and founder of the Martin Center for Mentorship in Education, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Institute for Public Relations (IPR) Lifetime Achievement Award.

The IPR Lifetime Achievement Award – which will be presented at the 63rd annual IPR Distinguished Lecture & Awards Gala on Dec. 3 in New York City – is the highest honor IPR bestows on an individual who has made major contributions to the practice of public relations, including effective use of research. It honors the person whose character exemplifies leadership by demonstrating the power of effective use of public relations and research while living the values of integrity, humility and stewardship.

“Tom Martin embodies the highest ideals of our profession – not only through his impressive leadership and strategic accomplishments, but also through his extraordinary generosity as a mentor,” says Ethan McCarty, CEO at Integral and IPR trustee. “He has championed the next generation of communicators with authenticity, humility and purpose. His vision for a more ethical, inclusive and connected profession has shaped countless careers – including mine and my co-founder’s. It’s a privilege to celebrate his remarkable legacy with this well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Martin is committed to helping CofC students launch successful careers by connecting them with industry professionals. In 2016, he established the Martin Scholars Program, an experiential learning program for graduating seniors at the College. In 2023, he founded the Martin Center for Mentorship in Communication to cultivate future leaders through mentorship and experiential learning, and to conduct research on to better understand and replicate effective mentorship programs.

Prior to academia, Martin held senior leadership roles in corporate communications, including as senior vice president at ITT Corporation and vice president at FedEx, where he played a key role in launching the FedEx brand. He has served on numerous industry boards, including the Arthur W. Page Center Advisory Board, the Page Society and the College of Charleston Foundation Board of Trustees.

A recognized leader in corporate communications and mentorship, Martin has received numerous honors, including the Milestones in Mentoring Legacy Award, the Distinguished Service Award from the Page Society and induction into the PR News Hall of Fame.

The Institute for Public Relations is an independent, nonprofit research foundation dedicated to fostering greater use of research and research-based knowledge in corporate communication and the public relations practice. PR provides timely insights and applied intelligence that professionals can put to immediate use. All research, including a weekly research letter, is available for free at instituteforpr.org.