CAREER ACHIEVEMENT HONORS PRESENTED TO
UH’S PUBLIC RELATIONS GURU
Veteran Professor Robert Heath Recognized
by Issues Management Council, Public Relations Society of America
HOUSTON, June 6, 2007 – For 35 years, Robert Heath, University
of Houston Professor Emeritus of Communication, has mentored aspiring
public relations (PR) practitioners, delivered international addresses
on PR and authored numerous articles and books on the topic. His
tireless efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by his peers. This
year, Heath is being formally acknowledged as an asset to the industry.
Heath recently received a W. Howard Chase Award from the Issues
Management Council (IMC), which recognizes contributions to the
evolution of issues management. On June 21, he will receive the
Public Relations Society of America’s Excalibur Legacy Award
honoring outstanding contributions to the profession from someone
who has been active in the field for 25 years or more.
“I am very pleased to know that professional colleagues
appreciate my work for the teaching, practice and research of public
relations since the mid-1970s,” Heath said. “The job
could not have been accomplished without the professionals who have
supported our program at UH through their conversation, teaching,
service and inspiration.”
The Chase award was presented to Heath during a ceremony in Dallas
in May, and the PRSA Excalibur Legacy Award will be presented during
the PRSA Houston chapter’s awards banquet June 21.
“I could not have achieved my goals without inspired and
inspiring students whose careers build a foundation for respect
for UH’s program and give others broad shoulders on which
other students can stand,” Heath said. “I am pleased
to have made a national and international reputation for public
relations in Houston. The accomplishment, however, is due to partnership
rather than individual achievement.”
Heath has taught at UH since 1971, instructing both undergraduate
and graduate students on public relations and communication principles
and theories. He also has taken his PR knowledge worldwide, speaking
at conferences in Taiwan, Norway, Germany and the Netherlands, among
other countries. He has been a visiting professor at universities
in Australia, Sweden, New Zealand and Denmark. Outside of the classroom,
he has consulted and conducted research for companies such as ExxonMobil,
Sterling Bank, Texaco, Chevron, Shell Oil, Baker Oil Tools-Baker
Hughes, Schlumberger and the cities of Deer Park and La Porte, Texas.
Among the many books Heath has authored are “The Encyclopedia
of Public Relations” and “Today’s Public Relations.”
Both are published by Sage Publications and used in university classrooms.
“Although I graduated five years ago, he remains one of
the most influential people in my life,” said Kelly Papinchak,
UH alumnus and public relations professional at the Brookwoods Group,
a Houston-based marketing and communication company. “He teaches
in a way that draws students into the public relations profession
and makes them excited about beginning a career in this field. I
will always be thankful to him for encouraging me to work hard and
supporting me as I move forward in my career. UH is very fortunate
to have him.”
Heath officially retired in 2006, but he continues to teach courses
at UH during fall and spring semesters. He previously served as
the School of Communication’s director of graduate studies
and as associate dean for graduate studies and curriculum development.
He also founded and continues to direct the school’s Institute
for the Study of Issues Management.
“He is a force at UH,” said Beth Olson, director of
the School of Communication. “So many students have succeeded
under his guidance, and he’s also made it a point to involve
junior faculty in publishing opportunities. I dare say no one in
the school’s history can even come close to matching his prolific
output. As an author and professor, he’s in a class all by
himself.”
UH’s School of Communication offers undergraduate and graduate
degrees focusing on a wide range of communication studies. Bachelor’s
concentrations focus on public relations, advertising, journalism,
corporate communication, media studies, media production and interpersonal
communication. Master’s concentrations are in public relations
studies, speech communication and mass communication studies. Curriculum
is taught by the school’s acclaimed faculty, including media
veterans and award-winning scholars and researchers. Among the school’s
esteemed alumni are CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, former White House
press secretary Peter Roussel, Houston Rockets broadcaster Bill
Worrell and Houston KPRC TV, Channel 2, anchor Dominique Sacshe.
For information about UH’s School of Communication, visit
http://www.class.uh.edu/comm/.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
For more information about UH visit
the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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