Craig Dezern joins UFCJC as a Public Relations Senior Lecturer in fall 2026

Craig Dezern will join the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Department of Public Relations as a senior lecturer in fall 2026.

Dezern has more than 30 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, crisis management and executive engagement, having held senior leadership positions with Hilton and The Walt Disney Company. He has also served as an adjunct instructor in the department since 2022 and is a longtime member of the Public Relations Advisory Council.

Most recently, he served as senior vice president of communications for Hilton, where he led global communications strategies during a period of significant growth and transformation. His accomplishments include launching the award-winning Stories From Hilton newsroom, developing the Hilton Effect thought leadership platform and guiding communications through the company’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to Hilton, Dezern spent more than 20 years with The Walt Disney Company, including serving as vice president of global public relations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. In that role, he led communications teams across multiple continents and oversaw public relations efforts for major initiatives, including the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort.

Before his corporate career, he was an award-winning journalist with The Orlando Sentinel. He holds a Master of Studies in Law from Yale Law School and bachelor’s degrees in both Journalism and English from Western Kentucky University.

As a senior lecturer, Dezern will teach public relations courses and mentor students, bringing extensive industry expertise and a global perspective to the classroom.

Category: College News
Tagged: Craig Dezern Faculty & Staff Updates Public Relations
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