With a decade of diverse experience in public relations and communications, Meredith Z. Avakian-Hardaway is an award-winning professional who enjoys creative writing and has a strong passion for justice. She joined the Philadelphia Bar Association this year as its new director of communications and marketing.
Avakian-Hardaway joined the association from DuPont, where she spent nearly eight years in a variety of public relations and communications positions. Most recently, Avakian-Hardaway served as a regional public affairs manager. In this role, she led internal and external communications, including 24/7 issues and crisis communications support, for eight manufacturing plant sites in three states – Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Avakian-Hardaway also serves as president-elect of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association and has won the organization’s Fast-Track Award and Dr. Jean Brodey Award. She also has been named a “Rising Star of PR” by PR News, a “Hero” by the American Red Cross and a “Notable Alumni” by Temple University’s Department of Strategic Communication. Avakian-Hardaway also is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
In addition, Avakian-Hardaway is a past chair of the Philadelphia chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Young Professionals and has led communications efforts for the annual Armenian Genocide Walk.
During her time at Temple, she served as president of the university’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and received national awards for her work with the organization.
In her “spare” time, she has published two books of her own poetry — Propaganda Begins with PR: Poetry for the Soul and PRhyme Time: Power of Poetry – and has recited her work at many events throughout the region.