Al Golin, a pioneer in the public relations field, will speak at 7:30 p.m. today in the Barsema Hall Auditorium as part of the start of the Arthur W. Page Society Distinguished Ambassador Lecture program.

“This is going to be a national program, and we’re going to be the first school to have it,” said Mike Runestad, president of the Public Relations Student Society of America at NIU.

Golin was recently inducted into the Arthur W. Page Society Hall of Fame.

“Al Golin is an amazing individual,” Runestad said. “As a pioneer of the public relations profession and the founder of one of the largest businesses in the world, any student will benefit from hearing him speak on campus.”

The evening does not only kick off the national program for the Page society, but launches an endowment fund in the name of Albert Walker.

Walker is a founding father of public relations at NIU, said Lois Self, chair of the department of communication. Walker retired from NIU in 1998.

“As the father of public relations education at NIU, Albert Walker is responsible for the leadership role NIU graduates have taken in the public relations and business communication industries,” Runestad said.

Golin will be speaking to two public relations classes on Tuesday and will also participate in an informal breakfast meeting on Tuesday to discuss his book and field of work, Self said.

Several alumni will be attending the lecture honoring their past professor. PRSSA expects a large turnout for the evening.