Faculty Profile for Debra Muller Price

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Debra Muller Price is an Assistant Professor of Practice and the Public Relations Program Coordinator in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She also serves on the PRSA Austin Board as the Director-at-Large for Communications.

Price is a skilled communications professional who brings decades of experience in journalism and public relations into the classroom. She specializes in teaching a variety of public relations courses at Texas State University, including beginning and advanced writing, campaigns, case studies, and crisis communication. In August of 2023, she led students on the university's first Study in America trip to Seattle to explore communications careers inside the global headquarters of Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft, Weyerhaeuser, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Price earned a bachelor of journalism degree from The University of Texas, where she served as managing editor of The Daily Texan. She launched her professional career in New York City, working as an intern for Esquire magazine and as a magazine editor at three top-tier publishing companies – Hearst Magazines, Meredith Corporation, and Gruner + Jahr.

Over the years, Price developed expertise in interior design, arts, antiques and travel, leading to a freelance career writing for national and regional publications. Her work has appeared in Country Living, Coastal Living, Art & Antiques, Veranda, Traditional Home, Forbes FYI, The Boston Globe, and the Charlotte Observer. She is the author of two books, "Garden Decorating" and "Christmas With Country Living."

Price shifted her focus to public relations after relocating to the Southeast. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, she served as director of marketing and communications for a leading institute serving children with special needs. She has also worked as a communications strategist and editor for a variety of companies, nonprofits and arts organizations in Tennessee and Texas.

In 2016, Price returned to school to earn a master's degree in mass communication with a concentration in strategic communication from Texas State University. She joined the faculty in 2018 and considers it a privilege to connect with students and mentor the next generation of PR professionals. She lives in Austin, where she enjoys hiking and exploring Central Texas with her family.

Teaching Interests

Writing, strategic communication, media relations, crisis communication. Price enjoys exposing students to experiential learning to help them develop professional skills and cultural competence for success in the ever-changing global communications marketplace.