Robert Wakefield has a PhD from the University of Maryland emphasizing communication in transnational organizations. He has coordinated communication in 25 nations and lectured at conferences in the U.S., Philippines, Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, Romania, Latvia, and Brazil. Before joining the BYU School of Communications, he directed global public relations for BYU-Hawaii and for Nu Skin in Provo. He also helped create the Global Alliance for PR and Communications Management, an alliance of 60 national associations dedicated to raising global standards for PR practice. Recently was editor of the Public Relations Journal, a scholarly outlet for Public Relations Society of America.
In the mid-1970s, Rob served an LDS mission to Kobe, Japan. He has since served in numerous positions in the church, including as bishopric counselor three different times and bishop of an LDS singles ward. He has been happily married to Clydie Wonnacott for 35 years and is father of two sons—one of whom passed away three years ago. He also has experienced the heartache of his eldest son’s divorce and ongoing child custody battles, which gave him an interest in the topic of divorce and the many struggles it creates for members of the LDS faith.
