William B. Gudykunst dies

William B. Gudykunst, of Laguna Beach, a professor of human

communication studies at Cal State Fullerton and a nationally known

expert on multicultural communications, died Jan. 20 at South Coast

Medical Center after suffering a stroke. He was 57.

“Bill was an incredibly inspirational leader,” said Robert A.

Emry, emeritus professor of human communications studies.

Gudykunst was a prolific author and editor of more than 28 books,

including “Theorizing About Intercultural Communication,” published

last September by Sage Publications; the fourth edition of “Bridging

Differences” and “Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communication,”

(Sage 2003); and “Asian American Ethnicity and Communication” (Sage

2000).

Gudykunst also authored more than 200 book chapters and articles

for the leading scholarly journals in the field, including the

International Journal of Intercultural Communication and Human

Communication Research.

In 2002, Gudykunst was awarded a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by

the International Communication Assn.’s Intercultural and Development

Division.

He was named a founding fellow of the International Academy for

Intercultural Research in 1998 and a fellow of the International

Communication Assn. in 1992. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in

1982 to attend the Yugoslavia-United States Fulbright Conference on

“Communication, Society and Culture.” A member of the board of

directors of the International Academy for Intercultural Research,

Gudykunst also was editor of the International and Intercultural

Communication Annual (Vol. 7-9, 1983-85) and Communication Yearbook

24-26 (2000-02).

At Cal State Fullerton, he taught human communication and Asian

studies courses and served as graduate advisor for the Human

Communication Studies Department.

Prior to joining Cal State Fullerton, Gudykunst was a professor of

communication at Arizona State University and taught previously at

State University of New York at Albany, Rutgers University,

University of Hartford and the University of Maryland, Far East

Extension in Yokosuka, Japan. He earned a doctorate in speech

communication from the University of Minnesota and held master’s and

bachelor’s degrees in sociology from Arizona State University.

“Bill was a true scholar and a friend of the department. He

brought strength to our multicultural curriculum and leadership to

our graduate program, as well as to the discipline,” said Kurt P.

Kitselman, chair and professor of human communications studies. “He

will be greatly missed.”

Gudykunst is survived by his brother, Ronald, and niece, Kim.

Services were held. Jan. 27 at the Zenshuji Soto Zen Mission. In

lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William Gudykunst

Memorial Scholarship, c/o Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic

Foundation, 2600 E. Nutwood Ave., Suite 850, Fullerton, CA 92831.