Wesley Niels M. Pedersen

Background

Pedersen, Wesley Niels M. was born on July 10, 1922 in South Sioux City, Nebraska, United States. Son of Peder Westergaard and Marie Gertrude (Sorensen) Pedersen.

Education

Student, Tri-State College, Sioux City, Iowa, 1941. Bachelor summa cum laude, Upper Iowa University, Fayette. Postgraduate in Russian, George Washington University, 1958—1959.

Career

Editor, writer Sioux City Journal, 1941-1950. Correspondent New York Times, Life, Time, Fortune, 1948-1950. Editor Department State, 1950—1952, foreign service officer Hong Kong, 1960-1963.

Foreign affairs columnist, roving correspondent, counselor summit meetings and foreign ministers conferences United States Information Agency, 1952—1960, chief, worldwide special publications and graphics programs, 1963-1969. Chief Office Special Projects, Washington, 1969-1978, Office Special Projects, International Communications Agency, 1978-1979. Vice president Fraser Associates, public relations, Washington, 1979-1980.

Director communications and public relations Public Affairs Council, 1980—2006. Principal Wes Pedersen Communications, since 2006. Lecturer creative communications Upper Iowa University, 1975.

Chairman, Europe, Ambassadorial International Affairs Seminar, Foreign Service Institute, 1975. Lecturer international public relations Public Relations Institute, American University, 1976. Lecturer business and management division New York University, 1976-1978.

Consultant public relations, editorial and design. Delegate founding sessions 1st Amendment Congress, Philadelphia and Williamsburg, Virginia, 1980, executive committee, 1980. Columnist O'Dwyer Public Relations Newsletter, since 2008, O'Dwyer's Magazine, since 2008.

Achievements

• Wesley Niels M. Pedersen has been listed as a noteworthy public relations and public affairs counselor by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Founding chairman board directors National Institute for Government Public Information Research, American University, 1977-1980. Served with Air Corps, United States Army, 1943-1946. Member DAV, American Foreign Service Association, American Legion, International Association Business Communicators (Communicator of Year Washington chapter 1978, various awards 1973, 76-78, 84, 90, 94-2004, Winners' Circle awards district III 1996-2003), National Association Government Communicators (president 1978-1979, Communicator of Year 1977, Distinguished Service award 1978), Public Relations Society of America (member Counselor's Academy since 1980, chairman 1st Amendment task force 1980-1981, hall of fame steering committee member, 2008-2009, co-recipient Thoth award 1980-1981, 94, twin Thoth awards 1995-1997, 2003, Thoth awards 1998-2003, Bronze Anvil award 2000, named to Hall of Fame 2005), American Society Professional Communicators (Colonial award 2002, Masters award 2004), World Affairs Council, Society Professional Journalists, The Academy Political Science.

Connections

Married Angeline Kathryn Vavra, October 17, 1948. 1 son, Eric Wesley.

Father:

Peder Westergaard Pedersen

Mother:

Marie Gertrude (Sorensen) Pedersen

Spouse:

Angeline Kathryn Vavra