Donna C. Wertalik, distinguished Professor of Practice and Director of Student Engagement at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business, has won the 2025 O’Hara Leadership Award presented by the Direct Marketing Association of Washington (DMAW)

Professor Wertalik has transformed marketing education and student engagement for over 17 years through innovative curriculum, bringing three decades of industry expertise at Nestlé and Ogilvy CommonHealth to her academic leadership role. 

Donna brings unparalleled expertise to academia. She's transformed marketing education at Virginia Tech, founding PRISM (Pamplin RE-Inventing Social Media), the college's first social media organization operating as a student-run agency serving multi-million-dollar clients while raising over $200,000. Her dedication extends to advising every marketing department student organization—from the American Marketing Association to Pi Sigma Epsilon, while mentoring over 90% of her 500+ students each semester. She champions alumni engagement through the Marketing Advisory Board, ensuring graduates remain connected and contribute their industry expertise back to current students in the form of mentorship, internship, and job opportunities. She contributed to the development of Virginia Tech's $250 million Global Business and Analytics Complex and developed the innovative Pamplin Digital Twin Campus. As co-founder of the Silver Vega Award-winning "Voices of Privacy," she has collaborated with Senator Warner and his conference team to help younger generations navigate digital dangers and create safer online spaces. 

The DMAW O’Hara Leadership Award recognizes exemplary instructional impact, including excellence in the classroom, creative approaches to interactive marketing education, and a demonstrated commitment to preparing students for success in the marketing profession both inside and outside the classroom.  

Professor Wertalik has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to educating the next generation of marketers through innovative teaching, dedication to student success, and her invaluable devotion to experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom. Her impact reflects the spirit of leadership and educational excellence that this award honors.