Distinguished Alumnus Award
Honors excellence in vocation.

2002 Recipient
Dr. D. Ray Heisey '57

D. Ray Heisey's communication studies have far exceeded the boundaries of the classroom. Heisey has taken his scholarly pursuits around the world, most recently as the vice president of the International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies.

Now professor emeritus, Heisey taught at Kent State University from 1966 to 1996. He served as director of the School of Communication Studies for his last 12 years at the University. During his tenure, Heisey took several leaves of absence to teach in Belgium and to serve as president of various colleges and universities overseas, including schools in Iran, Sweden, and Estonia. After retiring from Kent State University in 1996, he became a visiting professor in the Department of International and Intercultural Communication at Peking University, Beijing, China. Through this position, he was able to cosponsor as international conference on the communication with a colleague, Wenxiang Gong.

For his distinguished career Heisey has received many honors, including the Kent State University Board of Trustees' President's Medal in 1997. Heisey is a prolific scholar, having published in numerous communication journals, co-edited a book, and now serving as a series editor of Advances in Communication and Culture. He has shared much of his research at international conferences in locations from Montreal to Tokyo. Heisey has rigorously studied culture arguments within the political communication of international leaders, as well as revolutionary movements throughout Europe and the Middle East. His research currently centers on the rhetoric of contemporary Chinese political leaders.