Leslie Simone ByrdL. Simone Byrd is a professor of public relations in the Department of Communications at Alabama State University, where she has taught public relations, strategic social media and media entrepreneurship courses since 2008. In addition, to her facult role, she previously served as department chair from August 2017 to August 2020. In addition to teaching and research, she has participated in a number of faculty/academic training programs such as the Scripps Howard Entrepreneurial Journalism Institute at Arizona State University, the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism Disruptive Educator’s program, and the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations’ Educator’s Fellowship program. In August 2020, she was selected as a 2020-21 Fulbright U.S. Scholar award recipient to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. She received her Master’s degree from Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY) and a doctorate in Communication, Culture and Media Studies from Howard University. Read More Read Less