Dorn Hetzel, the longest-serving faculty member in the College of Communications and a pioneer of the film program at Penn State whose family has been connected with the University since the 1920s, has announced his retirement after 36 years of service, effective Sept. 30.
Hetzel, associate professor of film and video, joined the Penn State faculty in 1975, even before the College of Communications existed. Throughout his career, he has been a guiding force, calming voice and valuable resource during the growth of the communications program in general and the film-video program in particular.
“Dorn was the single most important figure in bringing the film program to the College of Communications and building it into the rich program that it is today,” said John S. Nichols, professor emeritus of communications who served as associate dean for graduate studies and research in the College of Communications before his retirement after 33 years of service in 2010. “He saw the diversity that film could bring and was diligent in seeing it through.”
Hetzel was among a group of administrators, faculty members and distinguished alumni who helped create what became the College of Communications in 1985.
“I was invited back to Penn State to accept a fellowship, and I remember I’d asked about the film program and was shocked to learn that there was nothing,” said Distinguished Alumnus Gerry Abrams, a 1961 Penn State graduate and an Emmy Award-winning Hollywood producer. “Soon after that, Dorn and I joined forces to try and see if we could change that.”
Hetzel also played a key role as four departments -- advertising/public relations, film-video and media studies, journalism, and telecommunications -- were created within the College of Communications in 2000.
“Dorn has been a valued and influential member of the college’s faculty since its inception,” said Dean Doug Anderson. “His careful, thoughtful and kind approach has served him, and the college, well during his years as associate head of the Department of Film-Video and Media Studies.”
During his career, Hetzel has been honored for his teaching on several occasions while maintaining a robust professional resume. His work has focused on both documentary and narrative films as well as photography. His credits include work as a writer, editor and director. Support for his productions has come from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Science Foundation, the Lous B. Mayer Foundation and the Walt Disney Lund Foundation, among others.
Fellow faculty members appreciate Hetzel’s accomplishments and leadership as well as his leadership style.
“He is the zen-master, spiritual leader, guiding voice,” said Rod Bingaman, a senior lecturer in the Department of Film-Video and Media Studies. “He has the ability to diffuse tensions and find common ground. He plays a big role in making sure everyone’s needs are met and that what emerges is the best possible outcome.”
“He’s very good at seeing the small moments of brilliance in students’ films,” said Maura Shea, also a senior lecturer in the department. “There’s a lot of personal pain and anguish, as well as ego, that comes with teaching undergraduates. But he’s brilliant at managing that and helping them hone their craft.”
Abrams, who was named a Alumni Fellow in 1981, said he watched Hetzel in classes and found him to be a clever teacher.
“He manages to make every student believe that they are as smart as he is—until the reality that they’re not finally sinks in. Dorn is a fabulous teacher,” Abrams said.
With Hetzel’s retirment, a chapter of his family’s personal connection with the University comes to an end. Still, the Hetzel name has an endearing and well-earned place at Penn State.
His grandfather, Ralph Dorn Hetzel, was the 10th president of the University, and is revered as a prudent man who deftly steered the institution through the Great Depression and the years encompassing World War II.
The Hetzel Union Building (HUB) was built and named for him in 1953. The facility was renovated to keep up with growing student enrollment four times from 1973 to 1997, when it became the HUB-Robeson Center with the integration of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.