Barbara Kerr, APR, Fellow PRSA, is an award-winning journalist, public relations leader, and actress whose career has taken her across the United States and around the world.
Journalism, communications and public relations
An Emmy-nominated reporter as well as an anchor, producer and news director at network television affiliates in Ohio and Maryland, Barbara Kerr was named “Achiever of the Year” by the Dayton Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television. In 2019, she was inducted into the Dayton (Ohio) Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
As a communications and media advisor for government, business, public and nonprofit organizations, she has worked nationally in cities including New York City, San Francisco, Portland, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. as well as internationally in Bulgaria, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
Her honors include the “Leading Change Award” from the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of Women in Communications as well as recognition from the Hermes Creative Awards, MarCom Awards and the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations.
As a member of PRSA's Portland Metro Chapter (now part of PRSA Oregon), Kerr served as chapter president in 2014, having previously served as vice president of member services and vice president of member communications. In 2016, she received the chapter’s William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015, she was inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows. She served in multiple roles on the College of Fellows Executive Committee, including secretary-treasurer, vice chair and chair.
With a passion for stories about people and the arts, she has served as a freelance writer for the Desert Sun, a daily news outlet serving the Coachella Valley, and for other regional organizations.
Theater
Barbara Kerr’s lifelong love of theater began in the first grade and has continued throughout her life.
She has appeared in regional productions from New York City to San Francisco and in Canada and Greenland. In the Coachella Valley, she has been proud to perform with The Bent Theatre, Desert Ensemble Theatre and RJ Art Theatrical Productions.
She received rave reviews for her performance in the one-woman play, Shirley Valentine. Her dramatic credits includeThe Lion in Winter (Eleanor of Aquitaine), Agnes of God (Mother Superior and Dr. Livingstone), Hamlet (Gertrude), Wit (Dr. Vivian Bearing), The Sisters Rosensweig (Sara), Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Gerte), The Guys (Joan), Moon Over Buffalo (Charlotte Hay), Separate Tables (Anne/Sibyl), Talley’s Folly (Sally Talley), and Monday After the Miracle(Anne Sullivan Macy).
She has performed in comedies including It’s Only A Play (Julia Budder), The Importance of Being Earnest (Lady Bracknell), Moon Over Buffalo (Charlotte Hay), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena) and Plaza Suite(Karen/Muriel/Norma).
Her musical credits include Gypsy (Rose), Mame (Mame), Follies (Phyllis), Company (Joanne), Anyone Can Whistle (Cora and Fay), Anything Goes (Reno), Annie (Miss Hannigan), A Little Night Music (Charlotte), The Most Happy Fella (Cleo), Bye Bye Birdie (Rosie), Applause (Margo), Lady in the Dark (Liza), and musical tributes to Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Kurt Weill and Sir NoëlCoward.
To contact Barbara: barbararkerr@hotmail.com
Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024
Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.
To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com