SR0981 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0981 LRB101 19739 LAW 69248 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Kenneth Eldon Andersen Ph.D. of Champaign, who passed away on January 26, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen was born in Iowa to Mads Ingvard (Edward) Andersen and Anna Christiansen Andersen; he was the youngest of five children; he graduated from Harlan High School in Harlan, Iowa in 1951; he earned his bachelor's degree and master's degree from Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa; he served two years in the U.S. Army as an education specialist and part-time instructor for New Mexico State University on the White Sands Proving Ground; he earned his Ph.D. in communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1961; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen briefly served as a visiting professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago and the University of Southern California; he then taught at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; he relocated to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1970; he retired as professor emeritus of communication from the University of Illinois in 1995; he authored books on persuasion and introductory communication and co-authored a book of original essays and selected journal articles; and

WHEREAS, During his career, Kenneth Andersen served in a number of roles outside the classroom; he was a debate coach at Iowa State Teachers College, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Michigan; at the University of Illinois, he served as associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, interim head of Speech Communication, interim head of Speech and Hearing Science, and deputy vice chancellor of Academic Affairs; he also served numerous roles in the University Senate, including three years as chair, three terms as a member of the University Senates' Conference, and as Senate parliamentarian for numerous chancellors; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen was active in a number of organizations and associations, such as the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) as a local chapter member and president, state conference president, treasurer, and newsletter editor and editorial writer; he was a chapter and often conference delegate to more than 30 national AAUP conventions, chairing three national committees and serving a term on the national conference; he served and held leadership roles in the National Communication Association, the Central States Communication Association, and the National Association of Communication Administrators; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen believed his greatest enduring contribution to the field of communication was when he served as the conference planner and keynote speaker at the National Communication Association's 1999 summer conference where he was instrumental in the formulation of the Credo for Ethical Communication, which was later adopted by the association; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen received a number of awards and accolades during his career, including the Association of State Conferences' Tracey Award and National Communication Association's Distinguished Service Award for his efforts; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen developed an interest in classical music and theater from a young age; he enjoyed live musical theater and Broadway musicals; he supported and sponsored the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts as a member of the Colwell Society, then the Foellinger Society; he was a season subscriber to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for over 20 years and to the San Francisco Opera for over a decade; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen was preceded in death by his three sisters and one brother; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Andersen is survived by his wife, Mary; his son, Erik (Susan); and his grandchildren, Nickolas, Megan, and Alyssa; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Kenneth Eldon Andersen Ph.D. and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Kenneth Andersen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.