CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – David L. Swanson, the associate provost at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, died early today of a heart attack at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. He was 60.
Swanson, a professor of speech communication at Illinois, had been the head of the speech communication department from 1994 until 2001, when he was named associate provost. He also had been director of graduate study in the department from 1992 to 1994, and was associate head of the department from 1983 to 1994.
“David was an essential part of the fabric of the institution,” Richard Herman, the interim chancellor of the Urbana campus, said today. “He articulated the value of our campus eloquently and served with distinction. Most of all, he was a wonderful human being.”
Barbara Wilson, the current head of the speech communication department, said: “David had a profound and lasting impact on the department. He literally changed the face of our program while he served as head, recruiting 11 of our current 27 faculty members. His vision for excellence continued to inspire us even after he became associate provost. We always enjoyed his lively wit and benefited from his insights. We will miss him as a devoted mentor, friend, and wise human being who deeply loved this university.”
Swanson’s research interests included network television’s role in political coverage, as well as the struggle between candidates and journalists for control of the agenda. He also studied the social and political uses of television news by viewers in other nations, and the effects of the globalization of television news on how the 1991 Gulf War was covered by television news services in 30 nations.
“He was a tremendous colleague and one of my dearest friends,” said Acting Provost Jesse Delia, also a professor of speech communication. “For more than three decades, David’s wisdom, judgment and tireless dedication helped build the excellence and reputation of this campus. His sharp intellect and keen wit are legendary. He will be sorely missed.”
Swanson earned his doctorate in speech communication in 1971 at the University of Kansas, and earned his master’s degree in speech communication at Kansas in 1969. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1966.
Swanson was a Graduate School Honors Fellow in speech communication at the University of Kansas from 1966 to 1969 and then went to Pittsburg State University in Kansas as an assistant professor of speech, a position he held until 1972, when he was hired as an assistant professor at Illinois.
