On behalf of Edelman, Media X @ Stanford University, and PR Week, we want to welcome you to the 2012 Academic Summit at Stanford, in Palo Alto, California. This year's theme - "When All Media Is Social: Navigating the Future of Communications" - is especially fitting, given our choice to host the summit in the heart of Silicon Valley.

As with our previous Summits, we'll convene academic leaders in the fields of public relations, journalism, business and marketing communications to learn from corporate executives, brand marketers and digital and media thought leaders. Above all, the Academic Summit is a forum for discussion. Participants will gain a wealth of knowledge that can be immediately incorporated into course curricula, and a greater understanding of the skills students need in order to pursue a successful communications career today.

The 2012 Summit - our first on the west coast - promises to be an extraordinary event, with robust content and plenty of special guests and opportunities. You'll hear from the world's leading technology and social media companies, who are fundamentally shaping how information is created, consumed and shared, and transforming entire industries along the way.

We'll share detailed updates about speakers and content in the weeks ahead, and you can also follow our updates on Twitter via #2012AcademicSummit. The 2012 Academic Summit will begin on Wednesday, June 20th at 1pm, and conclude on Friday June 22nd at 1pm. We'll be staying at the Stanford Park Hotel, about a mile from campus.