NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2006

Contact: Angie Joe
713.743.8153 (office)
713.617.7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

GERBER NAMED DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION AT UH
Veteran Journalist and Educator Will Oversee External, Internal Communications Efforts

HOUSTON, March 24, 2006 – Eric Gerber has been named Director of University Communication at the University of Houston.

In this position, he oversees external and internal communication programs at UH and serves as university’s principal spokesperson. Gerber filled the director’s position on an interim basis before this appointment.

“During his tenure as an interim director, Eric displayed impressive leadership qualities and provided valuable guidance for our university community,” said Wendy Adair, associate vice president of public affairs at UH. “His journalistic experience and educational background are great assets for this demanding job.”

Gerber joined the UH staff as associate director of the external communications department in 2002. Prior to this, he held several positions at the Houston Post newspaper, including film critic, editorial writer and columnist, and worked for two online information sites, Microsoft Sidewalk and Citysearch.

Gerber has been honored as Texas Headliners’ Columnist of the Year and received several Houston Press Club and National Society of Newspaper Columnists awards.

Along with his journalism career, Gerber has taught several adjunct courses in literature, film and communications at area universities. Additionally, he held a faculty position at Sam Houston State University, teaching in the public communication department and serving as adviser to the student newspaper.

“Working at the University of Houston has been a gratifying opportunity to combine my interests in journalism and higher education,” Gerber said. “As UH continues to flourish, I look forward to telling our story to the media and, on an internal basis, sharing important information with our campus community.”

Gerber has a bachelor’s degree in education and journalism and a master’s degree in English, both from UH. He currently serves as vice president of the Houston Press Club.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.