The fast-growing P.I. Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University, which has doubled enrollment over the past five years, received a big lift today (Jan. 4) from Widmeyer Communications with the establishment of the first enhanced professorship in public relations at WVU .

The contribution, which will broaden the schools ability to hire an accomplished faculty member to teach public relations, is one of the first of its kind in the nation.

“Scott Widmeyer is a West Virginian who has never forgotten his home statethis contribution is just the latest example,”said Gov. Bob Wise, who gave Widmeyer the Distinguished West Virginian Award during todays ceremony.”He and his firm have devoted countless hours to improving public education for all Americans. Scott especially takes this mission to heart by annually endowing two scholarships to first generation West Virginians pursuing higher education. To date, this has benefited 13 students.”

WVU President David C. Hardesty also lauded the 1974 graduate, adding,”We honor the generosity of Scott Widmeyer and his entire firm because this is a donation that truly brings to mind the concept of the circle of life. Scott was a student here, grew here, went out in the world, and now he plants new seeds here that will continue this great tradition of knowledge. This gift also further establishes the WVU P .I. Reed School of Journalism as an innovator in finding new ways to fund faculty positions.”

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who appointed Widmeyer press secretary during his term as governor, said:Scott has made great contributions to the field of public relations and political consulting, and as a native West Virginian hes again making the effort to give something back to his home state. He is a bright and dynamic person of great integrity and vision. The students at West Virginia University stand to benefit directly from that, and Im pleased to see the Widmeyer Communications Professorship created.”

The Widmeyer Professor will enhance the Schools professionalism by creating innovative curriculum to make the WVU public relations program the most progressive in the country, said acting Dean Maryanne Reed.

“Widmeyer Communications is a living testament to the power and value of a public university education,”says founder and CEO Scott Widmeyer, a WVU graduate from Martinsburg who started his career as a Charleston Daily Mail reporter.

“My experiences as a student at West Virginia University opened up a world of opportunity for me. It is at the same time a great honor and deeply humbling to be able to, in some small way, be able to pass that experience on to a future generation.”

Widmeyer noted that the contribution also reflects the values of the company as a whole.

“Our firm began by sharing the best success stories about education and the value of quality teachingwork that continues to this day.”

Candidates for the Widmeyer Professorship must be qualified and able to teach introductory and upper-level courses in Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications. WVU will review applications until the position is filled.

In addition to his work with Rockefeller, Widmeyer has served in major communications positions for four other highly-respected leadersformer President Jimmy Carter; former Vice President Walter Mondale; former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro; and the late Albert Shanker, who was president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Widmeyer is active in the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the New York City Partnership, the Council of Public Relations Firms, the Public Relations Society of New York, the National Press Club, the Education Writers Association and the International Public Relations Association. In 2003 he received WVU ’s most prestigious award in journalismThe P. I. Reed Achievement Award.

Widmeyer Communications, with offices in both Washington, D.C., and New York City, is the largest independent public relations firm in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Widmeyer founded the firm in 1988 and it specializes in education, public affairs and business communications for a wide array of public- and private-sector clients.