The new senior associate dean of the College will be Dr. Linda Childers Hon. Executive Associate Dean John Wright announced today that Hon has accepted the position, effective July 1, the same day Wright will become interim dean.

Since joining the faculty in 1994, Professor Hon has established a distinguished record of teaching, research, and service. “She exemplifies the teacher/scholar role model that I believe is essential in this important position of leadership in the College,” Wright said.

Professor Hon received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University, her M.A. from the College of and Communications, and her doctorate from the University of Maryland.

Professor Hon has been recognized many times for excellence in teaching and research and has an exemplary record of service. She is an Al and Effie Flanagan Professor of Journalism and Communications and was previously awarded a Research Foundation Professorship. She has served for eight years as the graduate coordinator for the Department of Public Relations.

Professor Hon has made significant contributions to the undergraduate and graduate missions of the College. At the undergraduate level, her leadership as Faculty Adviser helped public relations students place first nationally in the Bateman Case Study Competition. She has taught most of the courses in the undergraduate curriculum. At the graduate level, Professor Hon has served on over 100 graduate committees, and has chaired 32 M.A. and nine Ph.D. committees. She also has taught almost all the courses in the graduate-level public relations specialization.

Professor Hon is co-author of the book, Women in Public Relations: How Gender Influences Practice, has published 18 articles in scholarly journals and four book chapters, and has presented numerous papers at professional and scholarly meetings. In 2001, she was awarded the “Pathfinder” Award for Best Recent Program of Research in Public Relations given by the Institute for Public Relations. From 2000-2005, Professor Hon was editor of the Journal of Research. As editor, she recruited and provided oversight for an editorial board of 90 scholars from the United States, United Kingdom, Austria, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Australia.

Professor Hon also has served as a Minority Mentor and Faculty Mentor in the Ronald E. McNair Program and has been a member of the Faculty Senate and Graduate Council. She has served on numerous College and department committees and has chaired four faculty search committees for the Department of Public Relations. She is active in AEJMC, ICA, and PRSA.

Posted: May 2, 2006
Category: College News
Tagged as: Linda Hon