After 17 years of teaching public relations classes at Iowa State, Walter Niebauer, associate professor of journalism and mass communication, is leaving after this semester.

Originally form northern Wisconsin, Niebauer earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and will return to the area in Fall 2000 to teach public relations courses at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich.

“I came [to Iowa State] ABD — all but dissertation — in the fall of 1983,” Niebauer said. “I needed a place without a whole lot of pressure to finish up my Ph.D.”

At that time, Niebauer said, research was not a requirement for faculty at Iowa State, and it seemed like a good place to finish his doctorate.

“I just stayed and stayed and stayed,” he said.

Currently, Niebauer teaches introduction to public relations, public relations campaigns and the public relations senior seminar.

He said he doesn’t have a preferred course to teach.

“They are all so different for many reasons,” he said. “They are all different levels and impossible to compare.”

Niebauer said homesickness has contributed to his decision to leave Iowa State.

“There is really no compelling reason to leave [Iowa State],” he said. “I just really miss the north woods and now have the opportunity to go back and teach the same thing that I am here.”

John Eighmey, professor and chairman of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, said with Niebauer’s experience working in both the practical and academic sides of public relations, he has made a great impact at Iowa State.

“Wally is an outstanding teacher,” he said. “He has worked in PR and has an outstanding preparation for teaching.”

Dana Carlson, sophomore in journalism and mass communication, said she enjoyed having Niebauer as an instructor.

“He has a lot of practical applications for what he says,” Carlson said. “I wish him the best.”

Eighmey said Niebauer’s replacement has yet to be found and he would expect the search to begin during the 2000-2001 academic year.

Niebauer said he will remember Iowa State fondly.

“I have all the memories of seeing students succeed and hearing from former students that I helped them — the focus is really on students,” he said.

Although Eighmey said he will be missed by his coworkers, Niebauer said he thinks it’s time for him to leave Iowa State.

“It’s just time to move on,” Niebauer said. “There are a number of people that I will miss … I wish that I could take the students with me.”