Gary Sheffer
Gary Sheffer is the Sandra R. Frazier Professor of Public Relations at Boston University. Prior to BU, Sheffer was the chief communications officer at General Electric, a position he held for 13 years. After earning a B.A. in English Literature at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. Sheffer began his career as a journalist.
He later became a press officer to two New York governors and led communications for statewide political campaigns.
While at GE, Sheffer was elected as chairman of the board of the Arthur W. Page Society, the premiere organization for senior communicators from Fortune 200 companies, PR agency heads, and leading academics. Sheffer also serves on the boards of the Arthur W Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication and the Institute for Public Relations.
Sheffer has been recognized for his work in public relations. He was named to the PRWeek and PR News halls of fame, as well as the PR News Measurement Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of the Jack Felton Medal for Lifetime Achievement for Excellence in Public Relations from the Institute for Public Relations, and a lifetime achievement SABRE Award from PRvoke Media. In 2010, Sheffer was named American Speechwriter of the Year for his work at GE.
At Boston University, Sheffer received the 2021 Becker Family Teacher of the Year Award in the College of Communication.
Sheffer co-founded the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program and continues to serve on its advisory committee. He also is a trustee of of his hometown library, the Hudson (N.Y.) Area Association Library.