“As professors, we talk a lot about the differences in teaching today,” said Fussell Sisco. “But the thing that remains constant is the relationships. Those connections in the classroom and beyond are the dynamic adventure that continues to thrill me regardless of the many, many obstacles we face as educators.”

It's that tapestry of interwoven bonds that has provided the foundation for Fussell Sisco’s career as a professor of public relations and PR professional for the past 16 years. It’s also one of the reasons she will be honored next month with Quinnipiac University’s most prestigious faculty accolade, an Excellence in Teaching Award.

When she reflects on her impact as a professor, Fussell Sisco often tells the same story. She describes how one small gesture, and the way it made her feel as a student, became a defining moment in the course of her faculty career.

As an undergraduate, Fussell Sisco found herself in a communications class with over 500 students seated in an auditorium. Even though the professor was engaging and dynamic, she remembers the struggle to feel connected. But then her professor did something that surprised her, and his thoughtfulness left an indelible mark on the rest of her career.

“At the end of the semester, he sent my mom a letter congratulating me for being one of the top students in the class. He took the time to reach out in that small personal way,” said Fussell Sisco. “And I’ve never forgotten how good it felt to be singled out like that in a large group. I felt seen and recognized in a personal way. That is why today, while I teach to the group, my connection is on the individual.”

For Fussell Sisco, that kind of investment in her students’ lives extends beyond the time they spend in her classroom. She remains in touch with many alumni as they launch into careers, offering advice and sharing job postings with 300 former students on her PR alumni group on LinkedIn. She also regularly invites former students to speak in her class to help mentor the next generation of PR professionals.

“I’m in education 100% because of the relationships with my students,” she said. “I love the fact that they yell ‘Sisco’ across The Quad or ask me for my office hours so they can stop by and talk. I think the biggest teaching moments are when I realize that an impact that seemed small at the time proves to be more significant for one of my students.”

As founding chair of the Advertising & Public Relations department at Quinnipiac, Fussell Sisco was also instrumental in the launch of The Agency, Quinnipiac’s student-run interdisciplinary communications firm. She is the editor-in-chief of Public Relations Journal, and her research focuses on public relations in the nonprofit sector, social media and crisis communication.

Before coming to Quinnipiac in 2009, Fussell Sisco was an instructor at the University of South Carolina and Radford University. She encourages new professors to be patient, listen and learn to adapt.

“When I first got here, I was used to teaching these really big classes,” said Fussell Sisco. “But I had to adapt. Understanding what students need in this time and place is very important. And the fastest way to figure that out is to simply ask them.”

Most recently, she has been involved in facilitating professional development opportunities for Hartford Healthcare and M&T Bank, as well as on-campus leadership and conflict management training. It is those kinds of experiences that she credits for helping her find new ways to connect classroom content with real-world scenarios.

She considers herself to be a self-described “news junkie” and encourages students to develop a daily habit of monitoring news alerts. While her syllabus provides an outline, she is often tailoring her daily class content to address real-time issues.

“In PR, you have to live in the moment. I want my students to develop the skills to be ready for that kind of flexibility,” said Fussell Sisco.

“While it’s my job to make sure they have the confidence to transition into the professional settings, it’s also personally important to me that #1 they learn, but #2, they know they have someone like me in their corner. Even after they leave my classroom.”

Fussell Sisco earned her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Virginia Tech. She also earned her master’s degree in corporate and professional communication from Radford University. She has a PhD from the University of South Carolina. She and her husband, Daniel, have two children, Hattie and Gideon.