Kurt Wise, Ph.D., APR
Professor and Chair, Department of Advertising and Public Relations Florida International University School of Journalism and Mass Communication
3000 N.E. 151st St. AC 2 – 326 North Miami, FL 33181 Phone: 305 919 5777 (office) 203-675-1034 (cell) fax: 305 919 5215
kuwise@fiu.edu Education
Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of Maryland (College Park), 2002.
Dissertation title: Public health body/strategic constituency relationships: linking public relations processes and organizational effectiveness at a state health department. James Grunig, Ph.D., dissertation advisor.
M.A., Telecommunications, Indiana University (Bloomington), 1989.
B.A., Telecommunications/Speech Communication, Indiana University (Bloomington), 1980. Graduation with distinction, Phi Beta Kappa.
Academic Appointments
Professor and Chair, Department of Advertising and Public Relations, Florida International University, 2013-present, (North Miami, FL).
Responsible for leading a department of ten full-time faculty and part-time faculty. Specific responsibilities include preparing Departmental documents for accreditation process, rewriting Departmental tenure and promotion guidelines, curriculum review, serving as Departmental leader on the creation of an online master’s program, managing the department budget, recruiting and hiring faculty, credentialing faculty, directing faculty review and reappointment, assessment, serving as mentor to untenured faculty, developing course schedules, and representing the Department at University and School functions. Courses taught: MMC 4410, Campaigns.
Professor and Chair, Public Relations Department, Quinnipiac University 2012-present, Associate Professor and Chair, 2007-2013, (Hamden, CT).
Responsible for leading a department of six full-time and six part-time faculty. Specific responsibilities include strategic planning to support and strengthen undergraduate and graduate public relations programs; serving as an advocate for students, faculty and the department; managing the departmental budget; assessing departmental degree programs and courses to ensure consistency with desired learning and performance outcomes; recruiting and hiring full-time and adjunct faculty; directing faculty review,
reappointment, promotion, tenure and termination processes; providing mentoring and leadership to enhance faculty development; developing course schedules and assigning faculty teaching schedules; preparing annual reports of departmental
orientations and other internal and external functions; academic advising. Courses taught: Principles of Public Relations; Public Relations Campaigns; Healthcare Public Relations; Fundraising; Crisis Management; Issues Management in Healthcare (graduate).
Assistant Professor of Public Communication and Public Communication Track Coordinator, DePaul University 2002-2007 (Chicago, IL).
Served as faculty coordinator in the Public Communication Track and graduate program in public relations and advertising. As track coordinator (2003-2007), responsible for leading a department of five full-time and three part-time faculty in public relations and advertising. Specific responsibilities included managing day-to-day administrative track functions, course scheduling, curriculum development, adjunct faculty hiring and academic advising. Courses taught: Public Relations; Bioterror and Communication; Public Relations Campaigns; Health and Public Relations; Non-Profit Fund-Raising in Chicago; Public Relations Theory (graduate).
Assistant Professor of Public Relations, Quinnipiac University 2001-2002 (Hamden, CT).
Served as faculty member in the Department of Public Relations. Responsible for teaching, scholarship and service activities. Courses taught: Introduction to Public Relations; Introduction to Mass Media.
Adjunct Instructor, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida 2000 (Gainesville, FL).
Courses taught: Introduction to Public Relations.
Instructor, Department of Communication, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University 1999-2000 (Blacksburg, VA).
Courses taught: Public Relations Writing & Editing; Case Studies in Public Relations. Visiting Assistant Professor, Southern Methodist University 1998-1999 (Dallas, TX) Served as faculty member in the Public Relations Department in the Center for
Communication Arts. Courses taught: Public Relations Management; Principles of Public Relations; Health Care Public Relations; Environmental Policy and Public Relations; Mass Media & Society.
Instructor, University of Maryland 1996-1998 (College Park, MD).
Courses taught: Mass Media Writing; Public Relations in Health Care (graduate). Adjunct Professor, Indiana University Spring/Summer 1987 (Bloomington, IN). Courses taught: Public Relations in a Democratic Society; Electronic Newsgathering.
Professional Experience
Senior public relations officer responsible for directing corporate image and internal communications for the world’s largest privately-held medical device manufacturing firm. Counseled founder and company president on matters concerning media and public relations. Served as company spokesperson. Served as chief public relations officer for “Star of Indiana,” a non-profit musical organization sponsored by Cook Incorporated. Public Relations Director, Hoosier Lottery 1990-1995 (Indianapolis, IN).
Senior public relations officer for state lottery. Developed and implemented public relations strategic plan for state lottery with sales of $600 million per year. Administered departmental budget of $900,000. Areas of responsibility included publications,
promotions, customer service, media relations, minority participation, graphic arts and production of the “Hoosier Millionaire” television show. Supervised staff of eleven. Chaired annual conference of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries in 1994. Served as top media spokesperson, represented Hoosier Lottery at speaking engagements, counseled executive director.
Director, Division of Public Information & Education, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Editor, Outdoor Indiana magazine 1989-1990 (Indianapolis, IN).
Served as chief IDNR media spokesman and represented IDNR at speaking engagements. Counseled IDNR director. Supervised staff of eight. Responsible for editorial decisions for state’s most popular outdoor magazine.
Press Secretary, Indiana Democratic Party 1988-1989 (Indianapolis, IN). Served as spokesperson for Indiana Democratic Party. Conducted media training for candidates, advised state party chairman on press and public relations matters. Wrote 1988 party platform.
Public Affairs Director, WTTS/WGCL Radio 1980-1987 (Bloomington, IN).
Responsible for public affairs programming for both stations. Hosted public affairs show. Held morning and afternoon anchor positions under various formats. Covered local beats and supervised college interns.
Scholarly Publications Refereed Journal Articles
Wise, Kurt. (2012). Vision and state health department public relations practitioners: Prepared to lead? Public Relations Review, 38, 592-599.
Wise, Kurt. (2010). Public relations and the visioning process in healthcare: Perspectives of U. S. practitioners. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 3, 257-264.
Wise, Kurt. (2009). Public relations and health diplomacy. Public Relations Review, 35, 127-129.
Wise, Kurt. (2008). Why public health needs relationship management. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 31, 307-328.
Wise, Kurt. (2007). The organization and implementation of relationship management. Health Marketing Quarterly, 24, 151-166.
Wise, Kurt. (2007). Lobbying and relationship management: The K Street connection. Journal of Public Relations Research, 19, 357-376.
Wise, Kurt. (2004). Attribution vs. compassion: The City of Chicago’s response to the E2 crisis. Public Relations Review, 30, 347-356.
Wise, Kurt. (2003). Linking public relations processes and organizational effectiveness at a state health department. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 25, 497-525.
Wise, Kurt. (2003). The Oxford incident: Organizational culture’s role in an anthrax crisis. Public Relations Review, 29, 461-472.
Wise, Kurt. (2001). Opportunities for public relations research in public health. Public Relations Review, 27, 475-487.
Scholarly/Introductions
Wise, Kurt. (2005). Introduction to the symposium. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 28, 156-158.
Scholarly/Trade Journal Articles
Wise, Kurt. (2005). The importance of writing skills. Public Relations Quarterly, 50, 37-40.
Scholarly/Journals
Guest Editor, Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 28(2), special issue: Symposium on Communication Effectiveness in Public Health.
Book Chapters
Wise, Kurt, & Berg, Kati. (forthcoming. Working title: Lobbying and public relations.) In E. J. Ki (Ed.) Public relations as relationship management. (2nd ed.). (pp. unknown). Wise, Kurt. (2005). Pre-crisis relationships. In M. Haider (Ed.), Global Public Health Communication: Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies (pp. 155-164). Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett.
Course Design
Wise, Kurt. Principles of Public Relations, Distance Course Textbook, University of Florida Division of Continuing Education, May 2001.
Professional/Trade Publications Trade Magazines/Newsletters
Wise, Kurt. (2005). So You’ve Always Wanted to Teach? Health Academy News, 3, 2. Wise, Kurt. (1997). Hospital Mergers: Anxiety and Opportunity, Health Academy News, 4, 1.
Wise, Kurt. (1995). If it Ain’t Broke: Keeping Pace with Change, Internal Communication Focus—North America, February/March.
Newspaper Op-Ed Pieces
Wise, Kurt. “Doctors, Beware of Drug Companies,” The New Haven Register, guest column, November 7, 2001.
Wise, Kurt. “Election Drama Won’t Cut it as a Network TV Show,” The Gainesville Sun, guest column, December 2, 2000.
Wise, Kurt. “There’s No Passion in the Presidential Election,” The Gainesville Sun, guest column, November 5, 2000.
Magazine Editing
Editor, Outdoor Indiana magazine, July 1989 through September 1990.
Scholarly Conference Presentations
“Communication with Distanced Publics in a Hospital Setting.” Originator and moderator for panel held in October of 2011 at the New York State Communication Association Conference in Ellenville, NY.
“Relationship Management at Milwaukee Hospitals.” Originator and moderator for panel discussion held in April of 2011 at the Central States Communication Association
“Health Promotion, Minority Populations, and Health Reporting: Challenges for 2010 and Beyond.” Originator and moderator for panel at the 2010 AEJMC conference, Denver, CO.
“Leadership in Journalism and Mass Communication: Are We Teaching Students What They Need to Know?” Originator and moderator for program presented at the 2009 AEJMC conference, Boston, MA.
“Relationship Management.” Presentation at the 2008 American Public Health Association (APHA) conference, San Diego, CA.
“Why Public Health Needs Relationship Management.” Presentation at the 2007 International Communication Association conference, San Francisco, CA.
“The History of the Concept of Relationship Management in Public Relations and Advertising with its Evolution in the Field of Health Management.” Originator, program chair and panelist for mini-plenary session at the 2006 AEJMC conference, San
Francisco, CA.
“Trust, Ethnicity, and Science.” Panelist for session at the 2006 AEJMC conference, San Francisco, CA.
“It’ll Never Happen Again: Journalism, Boosterism, and the Reframing of Disaster.” Panelist for session at 2006 AEJMC conference, San Francisco, CA.
“Public Relations Writing: What Do Agencies Want?” Paper presented at the 2005 AEJMC Conference, San Antonio, TX.
“Attribution vs. Compassion: The City of Chicago’s Response to the E2 crisis.” Paper presented at the 2004 International Communication Association conference, New Orleans, LA.
“Opportunities for Public Relations Research in Public Health.” Paper presented at the 2001 International Communication Association conference, Washington, DC.
Conference/Workshop Presentations
Originator and Presenter, “Chalking up experience: Bringing your talents to the college classroom.” PRSA Health Academy Brown Bag Teleconference, July 22, 2011. Moderator, “Your Healthcare Career 2.1: What is Your Next Move?” PRSA Health Academy Conference, April 29, 2011, Washington, DC.
Presenter, “The Role of Public Relations in the Visioning Process.” PRSA Northeast District Conference, November 4, 2010, Troy, New York.
Presenter, “Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare PR.” Conducted April 28, 2008, at the 40th Anniversary Quinnipiac University PRSSA Conference, “Truth, Accuracy, and
Responsibility: Advancing the Honest PR Professional,” Hamden, CT.
Presenter, “Making the Jump to College-Level Teaching.” Conducted April 4, 2008, at the PRSA Health Academy national conference, Chicago, IL.
Originator and Co-presenter, “So You Want to be a Lobbyist?” Conducted October 22, 2007, with Ken Lawrence of Public Affairs Strategies and Mary Young of the
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Presenter, “Making the Jump to College-Level Teaching.” Conducted May 5, 2007, at the PRSA Health Academy national conference, Washington, DC.
Co-presenter, “Relationship Management in Public Health.” Conducted October 25, 2006, with Dr. John Ledingham of Capital University at the annual National Public Health Information Coalition conference, Portland, OR.
Co-presenter, “Bringing Relationship Management to Your Hospital.” Conducted April 6, 2006 with Dr. John Ledingham of Capital University at the PRSA Health Academy national conference, Washington, DC.
Developer and moderator, PRSA Health Academy Teleseminar, “Communicating Health Care Legal Issues,” September 22, 2005
Developer and moderator, PRSA Health Academy Teleseminar, “Using Relationship Management at Your Organization,” August 9, 2005
Co-presenter, National Public Health Leadership Institute Teleseminar, “Measuring Relationships.” Conducted June 2, 2005, and March 8, 2006, with Dr. John Ledingham of Capital University.
Moderator, PRSA Health Academy Teleseminar, “New Technologies in Successful Crisis Management,” July 13, 2004
Moderator, PRSA Health Academy Teleseminar, “Influencing Audiences Online,” July 22, 2004
Moderator, Public Relations Industry Roundtable—“Public Relations in a World of Change: Challenges and Opportunities.” DePaul University, November 15, 2004, Chicago, IL.
Panelist, PRSA Teleconference, “Bioterrorism! What You Need to Do,” February 26, 2004.
“Learning from the Pros: Teaching Adjunct and Other Opportunities to Get Involved in Public Relations Education.” Program chair for professional development workshop held at the PRSA national conference, October 28, 2001, Atlanta, GA.
Workshop co-leader, “Crisis Management,” Visiting Brazilian Communication Professionals Program, University of Florida, January 21, 2000, Gainesville, FL.
Professional development workshop co-leader, “Crisis Management: What to do Before Your Organization Becomes Headline News,” Virginia Tech University, April and May of 2000 in Roanoke and Falls Church, VA.
Awards and Grants
TLA Writing in the Disciplines Grant, 2003, DePaul University
Membership in Academic/Professional Organizations
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) International Communication Association (ICA)
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), accredited in 1996
National Service
Editorial Board Member, Public Relations Review, 2007-present
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 2011-present Delegate, PRSA 2012 Leadership Assembly, San Francisco, CA
Delegate, PRSA 2005 Leadership Assembly, Chicago, IL
PRSA Health Academy Executive Committee, 2003- 2010. Elected November 2003 to three-year term; re-elected November 2007 to three-year term. Developer and Chair, Quinnipiac University/PRSA Health Academy Research Paper Competition, 2008 – 2010. Co-chair, Programming Committee, 2004-2005
Reviewer (invited), manuscript submitted to the Journal of Public Relations Research, 2012
Research paper reviewer, Public Relations Division of International Communication Association, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004.
Reviewer (invited), manuscript submitted to the Journal of Political Marketing, 2004 Reviewer (invited), National Science Foundation, Societal Dimensions Program, (Grant Proposal), 2004
Focus Group Leader, PRSA Study on Work/Life Balance conducted in conjunction with the University of Maryland, Chicago, IL, 2005
Service, Florida International University Dean’s Leadership Team, 2013 – present
Chair, Department of Advertising and Public Relations Search Committee, 2013 – present
Service, Quinnipiac University
Chair, Master’s thesis committee (Caitlin Mooney), 2012. Thesis: “Corporate Health Diplomacy.”
Public Relations Department Representative, School of Communications Freshman Welcome Luncheon, August 28, 2012
School of Medicine Scholarly Reflection Concentration Committee, 2011-2012 academic year
Public Relations Department Representative, Parents and Family Weekend, October 15, 2011
Public Relations Department Representative, Graduate Open House, October 18, 2011 Public Relations Department Representative, New Student Orientation, August 25, 2011 Public Relations Department Q & A Session, March 24, 2011
Public Relations Department Representative, Admitted Students Day, March 26, 2011 Member, University Committee for Limited Submission Grant Competitions, September 2010
Public Relations Department Representative, Junior & Sophomore Open House, May 10, 2010
Public Relations Department Representative, Admitted Student Day, March 28, 2010 Member, University Task Force on Department Chairs, 2009
Public Relations Department Representative, Undergraduate Admissions Open House, Nov. 14, 2009
Public Relations Department Representative, New Student Orientation, August 28, 2009 Public Relations Department Representative, New Student Orientation, June 12, 2009, Junior Open House, May 11, 2009
School of Communications Representative, Admitted Student Day, March 29, 2009 Member, New Synthesis Group (university curriculum assessment task force), December 2009 – 2010
Member, University Future Plans Committee (Faculty Senate), 2008-2009 Chair, Public Relations Search Committee, 2008
School of Communications Representative, Parents and Family Weekend, October 3, 2008
School of Communications Representative, New Student Orientation, June 13, 2008 Public Relations Department Representative, Junior Open House, May 12, 2008
School of Communications Representative, School of Communications Advisory Board Meeting, May 7, 2008
Public Relations Department Representative, Admitted Student Days, March 29 and 30, 2008
Member, Public Relations Graduate Program Board, 2008-2011. Chair, Public Relations Search Committee, 2007
Member, Public Relations Graduate Task Force, 2007 Member, Instructional Technology Committee, 2007-present Member, Search Committee, Interactive Media, 2007
Service, DePaul University
Member, Public Service Council, 2006-2007 Member, WRDP Advisory Board, 2003-2007
Faculty Advisor, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), 2002-2003, 2003-2004, and 2004-2005
Member, Media Curriculum Committee, 2004-2007
Graduate Board, M.A. in Public Relations and Advertising, 2002-2007 Track Coordinator, Public Communication, 2003-2007
Member, Public Communication Search Committee, 2005
Chair, master’s professional project committee (Mai Kakish), 2004. Member, master’s thesis committee (Erin Polis), 2004
Member, master’s thesis committee (Keren Darmon), 2003 Member, Advertising Search Committee, 2003
