Published on June 19, 2025

Dr. Pam Estes Brewer: Reflections on her 2024 IEEE ProComm Schlesinger Award

Dr. Pam Estes Brewer is the IEEE ProComm 2024 winner of The Emily K. Schlesinger Award for Outstanding Service to the Professional Communication Society. Award winners have provided outstanding service to the Society in a variety of ways where they provide exceptional performance in one significant Society leadership role and/or demonstrate distinguished performance in a variety of roles within the Society over a period of time. We are happy to honor Dr. Brewer’s longstanding work with IEEE ProComm.

In June 2025, I was able to interview Pam about her work with IEEE ProComm. The following is transcript, edited for clarity and brevity. ~Traci Nathans-Kelly

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Traci Nathans-Kelly [TNK]: Pam, let’s start at the beginning—how did you first get involved with the IEEE Professional Communication Society?

Pam Estes Brewer [PEB]: I remember you mentioning it when you were transitioning to IEEE from STC [Society for Technical Communication], and that was probably around the time I first got involved. What really did it for me was attending the ProComm conference for a couple of years in a row. I was struck by the collegiality and the high caliber of presenters. I remember seeing Nupoor Ranade present—she’s someone I’ve always admired and hoped to recruit someday. Those conferences, along with knowing colleagues and friends like you were involved, drew me in after I dipped my toe in the water.

[TNK]: Let’s pivot to the membership work you’ve been doing in ProComm. Honestly, I’ve been involved in ProComm for a long time, and I’ve never seen anyone move the needle on membership like you have. It’s been fantastic.

[PEB]: Thank you! That all started a couple of years ago during one of our board meetings at a co-located conference. Alan Chong, ProCom past president, had laid out several key areas for us to consider. One of them was chapters, and I realized that I didn’t even know we had chapters! That discovery sparked my interest in membership. If I, someone already engaged, didn’t know this, then what does that say?

As I dug in, I found that there used to be strong engagement at the chapter level 10 or 15 years ago. Somewhere along the way, that got lost. I can’t tell you where or why, but it became clear that we needed to refocus.

So I asked myself, “What exactly is membership work? Is it just recruiting? Is it supporting?” That led to a lot of conversations with different chapters.

[TNK]: What did those conversations reveal?

[PEB]: Two things stood out. First, Aravindhan Anbazhagan [IEEE Board member] is amazing—he’s out there connecting with everyone, and we’d be foolish not to leverage that. Second, I realized that recruitment alone isn’t the focus. I wasn’t hearing, “Let’s grow, grow, grow.” Instead, the emphasis was on supporting and sustaining what we have.

Our chapters are often affiliated with other societies, not exclusively ProComm. They bring ProComm in because they see the value in offering those skills to their broader membership. Once I understood that, the goal became clear: ProComm provides a space for our experts to network and also serves IEEE at large by offering communication skills and support. When I brought that to the board, they confirmed that direction, and it helped clarify our role with chapters. We’re here to support and facilitate those skill-building efforts.

[TNK]: What advice would you give to a new student group as they’re starting out or looking to get involved?

[PEB]: The advice I’d give—and we’re actively trying to support this—is to start by clearly understanding their goals. We want to help them build communities that not only sustain interest but also give members a sense of contribution. Our job is to provide support, facilitate those efforts, and ensure they have access to the expertise and resources they need.

[TNK]: Looking ahead, what’s the next big thing—either for you personally or for ProComm’s membership efforts?

[PEB]: Well, I’m moving into phased retirement, so my focus has shifted more toward administration and service. My research has slowed to just a trickle, seems very odd to me still. I’ve always enjoyed research and writing, but right now, I’m channeling my energy into helping others grow and contributing in broader service-oriented ways. And honestly, that feels right for this stage of my career.

~Submitted by Traci Nathans-Kelly, IEEE ProComm Digital Content Curator

Below is the nomination content submitted with Pam’s nomination for this award. 

Pam’s commitment to the field of engineering/technical/professional communication is truly commendable. She has made significant contributions to advancing the goals and mission of the Professional Communication Society, through individual efforts, collaborations, and committee work. She has been instrumental in many initiatives which have had a lasting impact on the society and its members.

One of the key qualities that sets Pam apart is her ability to inspire and mentor others within the communication community within higher ed. She is endlessly generous in sharing knowledge, providing guidance, and fostering a supportive environment. Her insights are always thoughtful and presented with a calm assuredness that lets everyone around her know that they can trust her analysis and perspective. Pam consistently goes above and beyond in promoting inclusivity and diversity within our field, creating an atmosphere where all voices are heard and valued.

Too, she has been an active and engaged member of the Professional Communication Society, participating in conferences (as a participant, an organizer, and as a reviewer), workshops, and other events that contribute to the growth and vibrancy of our community. Her passion for the field is contagious, and it has played a pivotal role in shaping ProComm.