Kurt Kent retires early
Kurt Kent
(July 19, 2004) Kurt Kent will retire from the University in early August to accept a position to develop a new doctoral program at a university in New Zealand, Dean Terry Hynes announced today. He had originally planned to retire at the end of the 2004-05 academic year.
Kent joined the Department of Journalism as an assistant professor in 1970. He was awarded tenure in 1975, promoted to the rank of associate professor in 1976, and promoted to the rank of professor in 1979. He headed both the college's graduate division and the Communication Research Center in 1976-77 and served as associate director of the division in 1975-76 and of the Center from 1970-76.
Kent became director of graduate studies for the college in 1984 and was named assistant dean for graduate studies in 1989. He held this position until 1993 when he returned to full-time faculty status. Under Kent's leadership, the college developed and implemented the Ph. D. program that the Board of Regents authorized in February, 1984--after more than a decade of effort by the college's graduate faculty. The implementation stage was crucial in establishing high standards for program quality and high expectations for student performance. Kent provided a central leadership role in this regard as he collaborated with faculty to design and implement the program.
In addition to the high standards Kent set for research and graduate studies in the college, he has been a very effective teacher and mentor to generations of undergraduate and graduate students.
Kent has a long-time interest and involvement in international studies in journalism and was head of AEJMC's International Division in 1977-1978. Among his many service activities on campus were various kinds of service to UF's Center for Latin American Studies.
Kent earned the B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota and the M.A. degree from the University of Iowa.
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