E-mail: kmock@kmockpr.com

Spring 2008 Course Syllabi
Jour 202 - Writing for the Mass Media

Kara Sproles Mock, APR
Adjunct Faculty

Honored in 2006 as one of Columbia's "20 Under 40" business leaders, Kara Sproles Mock, APR has built a distinguished career creating and managing award-winning public relations and marketing programs. In addition to her work at USC, she is the principal and owner of K. Mock & Partners, a five-year-old "virtual agency" that utilizes established network of independent or freelance professionals and firms to provide strategic communication solutions.

In 2005, K. Mock & Partners was presented with “Best in Show,” the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America's highest overall award, for her team’s work with Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. In 2007, her company was presented with three additional statewide PR awards, bringing her career total to 18, including two from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

A former newspaper journalist from Atlanta, Kara's experience prior to launching her own company includes serving as a public relations specialist for Georgia State University and as vice president of marketing and vice president of resource development for United Way of the Midlands. She served as the director of public relations for the communications agency Chernoff Newman before founding K. Mock & Partners.

Kara's portfolio of work includes serving as the primary PR representative for the 1996 Olympic Village; the award-winning planning and execution of the public launch of the South Carolina Education Lottery; creating and executing a series of campaigns and strategies for United Way of the Midlands during a period of organizational redesign; creating marketing materials and events for Midlands Orthopaedics’ 25th Anniversary and opening of its Surgery Center; and launching and creating the marketing and PR plan for the world premiere of, “Off the Wall and Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green,” for Columbia City Ballet. Her current client roster also includes Verizon Wireless, the SC Chamber of Commerce, GarageTek, Southeastern Freight Lines and the SC Bar Foundation.

A 1991 graduate of Florida State University’s College of Communication, Kara received her universal accreditation in public relations (APR) in 2000. She is a former board officer for SCPRSA, a past president of Columbia City Ballet, a past steering committee chair for EdVenture Children’s Museum, a board member of United Way of the Midlands and a former member of the national-level executive committee for the PRSA Independent Practitioners Alliance. A regularly invited speaker at area professional development conferences, she is the proud mother of a four-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter.