College credit: Dean Terry Hynes and Dean Emeritus Ralph Lowenstein say the College's first leader, the late Rae Weimer, set the foundation for excellence. (Photo by David Zentz)
tough act to follow
Deans build transition tradition
When Dean Terry Hynes ran late for a meeting in Tigert Hall a few years ago, Dean Emeritus Ralph Lowenstein offered her a lift on his trusty moped. Soon, a UFPD officer pulled them over, warning them against riding together on a “one-person vehicle.”
Knowing that serving as dean is a one-person mission, Lowenstein did his best to stay out of Hynes’ way when she arrived from California in 1994 to succeed him. When they passed in the hallway, she could see him trying to pull back. She recognized how hard it was for him after 18 years on the job.
“Ex deans sometimes give too much advice and still try to run the school,” Lowenstein said.
This, however, never kept him from offering assistance.
“He came to me one day and said, ‘I know a lot of professionals and alumni around the state. Would you be interested in having me introduce you?’ ” Hynes recalled.
Lowenstein’s welcoming attitude helped Hynes gain immediate credibility, she said. And his achievements as dean inspired her. They included founding WUFT-FM, the Joseph L. Brechner Center for the Freedom of Information, and the Knight Division for Scholarships, Place-ment and Multicultural Affairs; getting a head start on electronic journalism; and establishing the College’ s four departments as national leaders in their fields.
Hynes felt her fresh perspective would allow her to take the College even further, she said. “In the end, that may be one of the reasons I was hired.”
In her 11 years on the job, that perspective helped her to develop new fund-raising opportunities, expand the graduate programs, bring in The Documentary Institute, support the start of the science/health communication program, hire top-notch professionals, and solidify the College’ s national and international standing.
She was one of three finalists recommended by faculty representatives Laurence Alexander, MAMC 1983, Robert Kendall, Richard Lehner and Joe Pisani, professional representatives Bill Brooks, Diane Hooten McFarlin, JM 1976, and Tom Kennington, TEL 1963, and one student, Mary Helen O’Connor, PR 1993. Then-UF President John Lombardi made the final decision.
When she interviewed for the job, Hynes had been a California State University, Fullerton, faculty member for 19 years, including four years as chair of the communications department. She followed Lowenstein as the 1991-1992 president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). She earned her doctorate and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her bachelor’s degree from Regis College.
The College’s reputation and history attracted Hynes, she said. She moved into Lowenstein’s office; he moved upstairs to a smaller space to direct a Smathers Library project on American volunteers during the 1948 Israel War of Independence, and to serve as the journalism initiative specialist for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
They drew inspiration from the College’ s first dean, the late Rae Weimer. Hynes met him at Lowenstein’s retirement reception. She remembers Weimer reaching out with his good arm, shaking her hand, looking her in the eyes and assessing her.
“I understood a whole lot of things better when I met Rae,” Hynes said. “He was a very charismatic guy who could walk the fine line between being very empathic to people, yet also holding them to a standard. That’s what he did for the College.”
Although they have different priorities and management styles, Hynes and Lowenstein share a vision, said former Associate Dean James L. Terhune. “You have to have a vision as to where you are going and a lot of persistence in trying to reach that goal. Not everyone will share your vision, but you have to have a significant number of people who will.”
Hynes and Lowenstein credit the College’ s success to a “good curriculum and a wonderful faculty.” Lowenstein gives credit for the construction of Weimer Hall, which opened under his watch in 1980, to his predecessors, Weimer and the late John Paul Jones, JM 1937. “Some plant the seed, some water and some end up harvesting the crop,” Terhune said.
Some recall Lowenstein dragging a long hose into Weimer Hall’s atrium to water the plants. “I built on what Rae Weimer and John Paul Jones did,” he said. “Now Terry is building on what I did.”
—Anne Vickey
