Remembering Former Department Chair Dr. Edward L. Fink (1945-2026)

Dr. Fink was a formative part of our department and will be missed by all who knew him

The Department of Communication at the University of Maryland mourns the loss of Dr. Edward L. Fink, Professor Emeritus and former Department Chair, who passed away on May 10, 2026. A renowned figure in the field of communication science, Fink’s legacy is woven into the fabric of our department, where he served with distinction.

This summer, Festschrift of Edward L. Fink, Ph.D.: The Well-Lived Life of a Scholar, will be available with Emerald Publishing. The book includes more than 50 essays by former doctoral students and colleagues alongside Ed’s biography. 

Dr. Fink’s impact on the University of Maryland was profound. During his tenure, he served as Chair of the Department of Communication for ten years (1997-2007), guiding the department through a period of significant growth and academic excellence. When Ed first became Chair, the department had six tenure-track faculty members. Ed made it his mission to deepen the research tradition in COMM at UMD. He fought doggedly to attract more resources for COMM, including battling for more tenure-track lines and growing the staff to provide the necessary support for advising in particular. 

In the process, Ed advised many Ph.D. students and mentored many junior colleagues who feel a sense of indebtedness to his mentorship. He also is one of the most published scholars of Communication Science, having earned the rank of Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at UMD and many other research accolades and accomplishments.

COMM Associate Professor Anita Atwell Seate remembers Fink fondly: “Ed Fink was the kind of mentor who changed how you think about your work and yourself. He taught us how to think carefully about research and methods and how to be good mentors ourselves. But, perhaps more importantly, Ed made everything more fun. He was as funny as he was smart, and spending time talking with him always felt like a gift. More than anything, he showed us how to care for students and colleagues with generosity and humanity. I’ll always be grateful for his mentorship, friendship, and kindness. I love and miss you, Ed!”  

Fink was also Acting Associate Dean of the Graduate School, where he championed scholarship and graduate student development, and Professor Emeritus, a title he held with pride as he continued to influence the department after his transition to Temple University in 2015. After his transition, members of the department enjoyed seeing Fink at various discipline-related events, especially at the International Communication Association Conference, where Fink was named a Fellow, in recognition of his outstanding scholarship. 

As COMM Professor Brooke Liu stated, “Dr. Ed Fink is an academic legend, and it was my deep honor to be his mentee and friend. He was the first UMD faculty member to invite me out for lunch when I was a nervous assistant professor. He quickly became my number one sounding board and cheerleader. Even after he left UMD for Temple University, he frequently reached out, always looking for opportunities to help advance my career. For nearly two decades, Ed has remained my most valued and impactful mentor. I know many others feel the same about Ed's everlasting impact on the communication discipline.” 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Edward L. Fink Scholarship to support students at Temple University’s Klein College. Checks payable to: "Temple University" (Memo: Edward L. Fink Scholarship). Mail to: Temple University Institutional Advancement, P.O. Box 2890, New York, NY 10116-2890.

The UMD Department of Communication extends our deepest condolences to the Fink and Cai families. Ed will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

COMM Director of Undergraduate Studies Dr. Leah Waks reflected, “He was naturally passionate, seriously engaged in teaching and research, as well as in mentoring faculty and students! Yet often joking which was followed by a loud laughter! This was Professor Edward L. Fink, my dear friend! Regardless of his hectic schedule, he was very generous with his time and always ready to give a hand to those who requested help. At the end of a long day and a very engaging intellectual conversation, he so craftily interjected his humor displaying a very powerful storytelling flair. His passionate pursuit of knowledge was contagious, intellectually uplifting and lasting. He was an individual who made a difference!”  

Read his full obituary.