From Building Design to Building Communicators: How Kelly Gaggin, Ph.D. Helps “Architect” Communicators in MSU’s AD+PR Program
By: Avery St. Lawrence
When ADPR assistant professor, Kelly Gaggin, Ph.D., started college, she imagined designing buildings, not communication campaigns.
“My dream was to be an architect,” she said. “But a professor told us we wouldn’t do our own work until we were 30. To 18-year-old me, that felt like forever.”
Without thinking twice, she switched her major to business, discovered a passion for marketing and public relations and never looked back.
“I loved my advertising and marketing classes,” she said. “It just made sense. My family had been in media and radio advertising for generations, so it was sort of in my blood.”
Over the next two decades, Gaggin built a career across corporate, agency and nonprofit communication. Her time in the nonprofit sector shaped her the most, showing her how strategic storytelling could make a difference in people’s lives.
“One of my favorite projects was working with a credit union in North Carolina to build trust with their Spanish-speaking community,” she said. “We partnered with churches and community leaders, and we saw families who never opened a bank account begin to save money, buy homes and build stability. Communication made that possible.”
As her career advanced, Gaggin earned her Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential and joined the PRSA College of Fellows. She now serves as interim director of MSU’s Master’s in Strategic Communication program and teaches undergraduate PR courses, bringing real-world insight into the classroom and helping students connect theory with practice.
“Anyone can manage tasks,” she said. “Leadership is understanding the humanity behind the work. Empathy makes us better communicators and better people.”
Her classroom lessons often focus on the importance of authentic and inclusive communication. Gaggin encourages students to avoid reducing people to categories and instead “architect” communication with curiosity and empathy – building understanding the same way an architect builds a structure.
“In cross-cultural communication, people tend to simplify audiences,” she said. “We love categories, but within every identity are thousands of unique experiences. Curiosity and empathy are your most valuable tools.”
Gaggin also aims to prepare students for the complex ethical realities of the communication field. She often brings in guest speakers and uses personal stories to highlight both the creative and challenging sides of public relations.
“I tell my students that success in PR is not just about strategy or creativity,” she said. “It’s about being a good human. I can teach anyone to write a release or build a campaign, but I can’t teach kindness.”
For students considering graduate school or future career steps, Gaggin emphasizes self-awareness and long-term purpose.
“There is no harm in advancing your education, but know why you’re doing it,” she said. “A master’s should be about curiosity, not just credentials.”
From architecture dreams to public relations leadership, Gaggin’s journey reflects the spirit of MSU’s AD+PR program: communication rooted in empathy, authenticity and purpose.
“At the end of the day,” she said, “great communication builds understanding. That’s the job.”
Learn more about Gaggin and her work here.
