Faculty Member Receives Leadership and Diversity Experience Program Award

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Heidi Hatfield Edwards, Florida Tech associate professor of humanities and communication, was selected to the 2008-2009 Journalism and Mass
Communication Leadership Institute for Diversity (JLID). Only nine professors nationwide will be part of this annual program, which is funded by the Ethics
and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.

The experience, which starts with a December meeting in Louisville, Ky., includes three days of workshops covering a variety of administrative issues, a
mentor program and resource networking. The JLID was created to provide training and mentoring for people of color and women interested in becoming deans,
directors or chairs in the field of journalism and mass communication.

Prior to joining the Florida Tech faculty, Edwards taught public relations at Pennsylvania State University. She is experienced in communication, public
relations and marketing, and has worked in television, radio and print media. She earned a doctoral degree in mass communication from the University of
Georgia in 2002.

The JLID award is made by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Founded in Chicago in 1912, the organization is a non-profit,
educational association of journalism and mass communication faculty, administrators, students and media professionals.