Jeff Hunt, international public relations executive, has been named the 2004-05 College of Communication Outstanding Alumnus.

Hunt earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at The University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves as chairman of the College of Communication Advisory Council and as an adjunct professor in the college. He is also an adviser and major contributor to The University of Texas at Austin athletic program.

Hunt has counseled many multinational clients, including IBM, AT&T, Dell, Coca-Cola and McDonald's. With Burson-Marsteller Hunt worked in London as chief operating officer for Europe and in New York as vice chairman of client services worldwide. He established the firm's presence in Korea and Mexico and eventually ran the entire Latin American region.

Hunt currently serves as president and chief executive officer of GCI Read-Poland, one of the largest public relations firms in the world, and is a member of the GCI Global Board where he directs a broad spectrum of company operations. Hunt is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America and serves on the board of the Texas Public Relations Association.

“Jeff's energy in support of the college is unmatched,” said Roderick P. Hart, dean of the college. “He has leveraged his professional success to benefit the college – from teaching classes as an adjunct professor, to helping the college make industry connections, to establishing an innovative matching gift program within the college that has spawned a total of $600,000 to date.”

Hunt himself would add, “I am extremely honored and humbled by this award because I know the caliber of people who have received it before me. Throughout my career, these leaders have inspired me, and I feel a tremendous sense of obligation to do the same for those who will follow me."