J. Arthur Heise

Last thing we need in this country is more journalists with integrity, passion, and professionalism -- the kind of journalists Hall, former dean J. Arthur Heise, and the rest of their ilk spent years churning out -- running around writing stories that actually matter, with all the words spelled correctly and in the right order. ...

Donations can be made in his memory to the Sylvan Meyer Newsroom, School of Journalism and Communications, Florida International University, North Campus, AC II, Room 335, Miami, FL 33181 (Attention: Dean J. Arthur Heise).

J. Arthur Heise Director Florida International University (FIU)

"There is no professor on FIU's faculty who did more for his students, inside and outside of the classroom, than Bill Adams," said J. Arthur Heise, dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at FIU.
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Bill Adams," said Heise, "was the force that made that happen."During the 13 years he taught public relations at FIU, he was the recipient of numerous honors and awards.In 2000, he was the first professional ever to simultaneously be named the nation's Outstanding Public Relations Educator by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the nation's leading public relations professional society, and Advisor of the Year by the Public Relations Student Society of America.Also in 2000, he was named one of the Top 10 Public Relations Educators in the U.S. by PR Week magazine, the top trade publication in the field.He was also honored by the university for teaching and service excellence on three occasions over his 13- year career there.His expertise in media relations was known internationally.He was an annual lecturer in the master of public relations program at the Universita della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, Switzerland and did consulting for the Belize Tourism Council.He was also active in both the Gulfstream (Fort Lauderdale) Chapter of PRSA, where he was president in 1995, and the Miami Chapter.He held an M.A. in journalism and public relations from the University of Wisconsin.He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Barbara; his three sons Douglas, of Lawrence, Kan., and Erik and Kristofer of Sunrise; daughters-in-law Vanessa and Bonnie of Sunrise; and grandchildren Tyler and Kaitlyn.He is also survived by sister Kathy and brother-in-law Alan Wolkenstein of Mequon, Wis.The family plans a private cremation service.It asks that donations in Adams' memory be made to the Community Foundation of Broward - PRSA Gulfstream Chapter Scholarship Fund.The address is Community Foundation of Broward, 1401 E. Broward Blvd., Suite 100, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301.The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at FIU is also setting up a scholarship in Adams' memory.Donations should be made to the William C. Adams Memorial Scholarship Fund, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Florida International University, 3000 N.E. 151 St., North Miami, FL 33181.

When J. Arthur Heise took over the journalism program at Florida International University in 1983, there were instructors who wouldn't talk to each other, hopelessly scrambled student files, and a faculty that was often in open revolt."The FIU provost told me that the department was 'my single biggest academic headache,'" Heise recalled the other day."The program was in total disarray."

After twenty years under Heise, though, the FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication was studied and often emulated by other universities.It produced a slew of Pulitzer Prize winners, including six grads who were among the group that took the 2001 breaking-news award for the Miami Herald's coverage of the Elián González story.

Heise brought in a tough cadre of working-press faculty members who helped to establish the first Spanish-language master's program in the nation, created widely admired courses to prepare foreign correspondents for overseas assignments, and set up a hard-nosed, test-driven program to promote writing skills.

Now, though, the school, located on FIU's Biscayne Bay campus in North Miami, threatens to move back into migraine territory, critics say.Heise retired as dean last year, and three key faculty members have recently resigned in anger or frustration.

When J. Arthur Heise took over the journalism program at Florida International University in 1983, there were instructors who wouldn't talk to each other, hopelessly scrambled student files, and a faculty that was often in open revolt."The FIU provost told me that the department was 'my single biggest academic headache,'" Heise recalled the other day."The program was in total disarray."

After 20 years under Heise, though, the FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication was studied and often emulated by other universities.It produced a slew of Pulitzer Prize winners, including six grads who were among the group that took the 2001 breaking-news award for the Miami Herald's coverage of the Elián González story.

Heise brought in a tough cadre of working-press faculty members who helped to establish the first Spanish-language master's program in the country, created widely admired courses to prepare foreign correspondents for overseas assignments, and set up a hard-nosed, test-driven program to promote writing skills.

Now, though, the school threatens to move back into migraine territory, critics say.Heise retired as dean last year, and three key faculty members have recently resigned in anger or frustration.

Last thing we need in this country is a few more journalists with integrity, passion, and professionalism -- the kind of journalists Hall, former dean J. Arthur Heise, and the rest of their ilk spent years churning out -- running around writing stories that actually matter.