Printing Industries of America (PIA) has announced that Dr. Jerry Waite of the University of Houston College of Technology received the 2017 Education Award of Excellence. Initiated in 1984, the PIA Education Award of Excellence award is given annually to an academic representative in recognition for outstanding contributions to education and training in the graphic arts. Dr. Waite was recognized for leadership that has directly resulted in a distinguished program and service to graphic communications education.
Professor Waite founded the University of Houston’s graphic communications program that was transformed in 2009 to digital media, a standalone baccalaureate degree program that covers print media, packaging, motion media, e-commerce, e-media, and gaming and simulation.
According to the PIA, Dr. Waite’s nominators recognized his leadership in attracting, educating, and training new young talent to fill future leadership roles in the print communications industry. He created an advisory committee comprised of industry leaders who help guide the program and worked with University administrators to have new facilities built in order to accommodate the program’s growth. “His colleagues, coworkers and students have turned to Jerry again and again for advice, for cooperation, for ‘sacrifice beyond the call of duty’- and never has he failed them,” said one nominator.