Marcia Watson DiStaso

Ph.D.: University of Miami
Master's degree: University of South Florida
Bachelor's degree: University of South Florida

Marcia DiStaso brings a mix of professional and teaching experience to her position as an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations.

She has taught a variety of courses especially in the public relations sequence over the past five years at the University of Miami and the University of South Florida.

DiStaso has a bachelor’s degree in economics and worked in finance for six years before returning for her master’s in mass communication with specializations in public relations and management and her doctorate in communication with specializations in public relations and accounting. She has experience in corporate, nonprofit and agency public relations.

Her research focuses on investor relations and other public relations topics such as new media. She has published three book chapters, presented 16 research papers, given three invited presentations and has various research articles available through the Institute for Public Relations.

DiStaso now sits on the advisory board for the International Public Relations Research Conference after running it for three years. She has won three top paper awards along with other teaching and scholarship awards including the 2004 Northwestern Mutual Best Thesis Award and the 2004 Ketchum Excellence in Public Relations Research Award.