The Canadian Public Relations Society has named a new award recognizing ethical practices in public relations in memory of its inaugural recipient, McMaster graduate Heather Pullen.

Pullen, who passed away on Sept. 15, was the manager of public relations and communications at Hamilton Health Sciences for 13 years, following a varied career that included journalism, broadcasting and teaching.

She returned to school in 2007 at the age of 52 to complete the Master of Communications Management program at McMaster, graduating in its very first cohort. She later became an instructor with the program.

“Heather meant so much to the MCM program and the MCM program meant so much to her,” Terry Flynn, director of the program, said in a tribute to Pullen on the MCM website.

“As one of our first students, one of the original pathfinders, she helped to shape this program into what it is today. From a student, to a teaching assistant, to finally an instructor – Heather invested herself deeply into the success of her students and her fellow MCM pathfinders over her the last 13 years.”

Pullen’s family has established the Heather Pullen MCM Pathfinder Fund, and has asked that donations be made to the fund in her memory, in lieu of flowers.