Public relations group honors veterinary staff member

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine’s director of public relations has earned top recognition for more than 20 years of work exemplifying the mission and standards set by the public relations profession.

The Gainesville chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association recently named Sarah Carey, M.A., A.P.R., as the 2012 John S. Detweiler Professional of the Year. The award is named for longtime chapter member and UF professor emeritus John S. Detweiler, Ed.D., A.P.R., C.P.R.C., who served for many years as chairman of the public relations department in the UF College of Journalism and Communications.

The Detweiler Award is given annually to an individual who demonstrates the highest standards of ethics, performance and service to the public relations profession.

“For the past 22 years, Sarah has worked hard to gain positive exposure for the college with numerous stories being placed throughout the years and throughout the country,” said Morgan Lee, FPRA Gainesville’s past president who chaired the chapter’s awards selection committee and presented Carey with the award.

A native of Tallahassee, Carey attended Duke University and Florida State University, receiving her Master of Arts in creative writing in 1981. She worked for five years as editor of a weekly newspaper in the Florida Panhandle and for two years as editor of a citrus trade magazine prior to beginning her career with the UF College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. She received her accreditation in public relations in 1996.

Carey manages media relations, social media and the college’s Web presence. She has received many awards for her writing and other public relations efforts over the years, including four FPRA Image Awards and two Grand Image Awards from the Gainesville FPRA chapter. She works closely with college and UF alumni and development staff, as well as with the UF veterinary administrative team and the UF&Shands Communications leadership to meet communications needs.

One nominator wrote, “It never fails that I read or hear about an amazing story coming from the College of Veterinary Medicine. We have a true public relations gem right here in our community.”