Brian Thornton

Brian Thornton

Professor

School of Communication | College of Arts & Sciences (COAS)

UNF Jacksonville, Florida

Ph.D.- Communication, University of Utah -1994

MA- Communication, Wichita State University- 1986

BA- Journalism, University of Hawaii-Manoa- 1983

He was a tenured full professor, specializing in communication law and ethics and journalism history. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Utah. His research interests include the history and content of letters to the editor in the African-American press in the 20th century and journalism history and the history of ethics in journalism.

He had published 15 articles in academic publications, examining letters to the editor, including “The ‘Dangerous’ Chicago Defender: A Study of the Newspaper’s Editorials and Letters to the Editor, 1968,” Journalism History, Vol. 40, No. 1, Spring 2014, 40-51 and “The Murder of Emmett Till: Myth, Memory and How 10 Magazines Responded,” Journalism History, July 2010, Vol. 35, No. 11, 96-104.

He was also a multi-media journalism coordinator in the School of Communication at the University of North Florida. He had 24 years of experience teaching communication law and ethics and 13 years of experience as a mid-level college administrator. He was tenured in Texas and Illinois before moving to Florida.

He grew up in Hawaii and earned his BA at the University of Hawaii. He was an investigative reporter and editor in Hawaii before entering academia. In total he had more than 25 years of progressive management experience developing and overseeing academic programs, policies, and initiatives to promote student growth and achievement. He had leadership experience in supervising diverse faculty and staff in Texas, Illinois and Florida. He also had expertise in developing, implementing, evaluating, and continually improving challenging and inspiring curricula and degree programs. He was a goal-oriented, multi-media journalism coordinator with a proven track record of overhauling and improving communication programs to meet strategic plans. He had an outstanding track record as Multi-Media Coordinator of three different multi-media journalism programs, in Texas, Illinois and Florida.

His love for life and his passions for Education, Surfing and Blues Music will always be present. He looked at surfing as his religion 365 / 24 hrs.

After a series of health issues he had made a promise to himself that he would go and surf every single day no matter what and if possible.

He loved music. He played his guitar all the time. He brought together exceptional friends to make awareness for his passion for the Mississippi Blues and the historic background of that genre. He loved being a professor and his passion for education was evident to his last moments. Often times we would see him with the “Blue Book” of student essays and him grading. He loved his work. He loved life and was the most positive about it, no matter what every single day.

Brian is survived by his loving wife, Vessy, his son Richard, his siblings Daniel, Steve and Maureen, by all his grand children & great-grand children, and the rest of his loving family and dear friends.

Crevasse’s Simple Cremation is honored to serve the Thornton family.