Dr. Rochelle Ford, APR

About

Dr. Rochelle Ford is the Chief Executive Officer of Page Society, the leading global community of senior communications leaders. A seasoned executive, she has led complex organizations, driven financial growth, and elevated the communications profession through strategic leadership and innovation.

Prior to Page, Rochelle served as president of Dillard University, where she strengthened the university’s financial health, elevated its reputation, and expanded global partnerships. As Dean of the School of Communications at Elon University, she positioned the school as a leader in media analytics and strategic communication. As chair of the Public Relations Department at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, she revitalized the program to win PRWeek’s Education Program of the Year.

Rochelle’s global experience includes serving as a Fulbright Specialist in The Gambia, West Africa, where she trained emerging media and business leaders, leading a Strategic Public Relations seminar at the London School of Management, and working with single mothers in Kenya on community-driven economic empowerment. In her work, she has collaborated with global organizations, including the CEO Roundtable on Cancer and the Business Council of New Orleans, and has spoken at leading forums on corporate trust, DEI, and business transformation.

A strategic advisor and industry advocate, Rochelle has been a key voice in advancing the role of the Chief Communication Officer (CCO) as an enterprise leader. Dr. Ford continues to be a thought leader in multistakeholder engagement, corporate character, and global business impact.

Recognized as a Page Distinguished Service Award recipient and PRWeek Hall of Fame Inductee, Rochelle continues to drive Page’s mission to empower communication leaders worldwide, and is committed to expanding the organization’s international presence to ensure that communications leaders are equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s global business landscape.

She holds degrees from Howard University (BA), the University of Maryland (MA), and Southern Illinois University (PhD), along with executive certificates from Harvard and Clark Atlanta University.