BLACKSBURG, Va., April 7 -- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University issued the following news release:
Donna Wertalik, professor of practice in the Department of Marketing at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business and founder of the faculty-led, student-run marketing agency PRISM, has been named the 2025 Advertising Person of the Year by the Western Virginia chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF). The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advertising profession within the last calendar year while helping shape the next generation of industry leaders.
For Wertalik, the recognition reflects decades of work across both industry and education.
"To be recognized in that way ...