Mike Foley earns first Hugh Cunningham Professorship

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications recently named Master Lecturer Mike Foley its first Hugh W. Cunningham Professor in Journalism Excellence.

“Mike’s distinguished accomplishments and expertise as a journalist are complemented by his genuine concern that students receive the highest possible quality instruction,” said John Wright, the college’s interim dean. “His high standards and effectiveness in the classroom make him the ideal recipient of the first Hugh Cunningham Professorship in Journalism Excellence.”

Foley, former executive editor of the St. Petersburg Times, has been overseeing the Reporting classes and labs as a faculty member since 2003. He’s been teaching at the College for the past five years. He received his bachelor’s and master’s from the college in 1970 and 2004, respectively. He took Applied Journalism with Cunningham as an undergraduate student.

“I’m honored to receive this professorship,” says Foley, who served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes and president of the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. “Hugh had such a profound influence on me.”

Cunningham never forgot Foley, he says. “He was an extremely good student of mine.”

Their relationship continued after Foley graduated. During the summer, Cunningham would see him when he brought his Applied Journalism students to the Times newsroom to help put out the paper.

The College is a national leader in the professional education of future journalists and other communications practitioners. Nationally accredited, it has programs in advertising, print and broadcast journalism, public relations, and telecommunication production and operations, as well as graduate-level programs in science/health communication, documentary, media law, political communication, international communication, and other specialties.

Posted: July 5, 2006
Category: College News