Puja Hudelist, IABC-Hawai‘i president said: “Anyone
who has worked with Helen knows she is a force to be reckoned
with. She can turn any situation into a learning opportunity
for her students.... I’ve never met anyone so resourceful!”
In 1991 when Varner joined the HPU faculty, Hawai‘i Pacific
offered one course in communication. Varner initiated the first
communication degree program in 1992, the B.S.B.A. in Corporate
Communication. The program evolved into the Communication Division
in 1994 with the addition of the B.A. in Communication. Today,
the College serves 555 students and offers degrees in advertising,
corporate communication, public relations, and journalism,
as well as a Master of Arts in Communication.
As Dean, Varner oversees faculty and curriculum for the College
of Communication, teaches undergraduate- and graduate-level
courses, and coordinates the internship program. She serves
as faculty advisor to the student chapter of IABC.
She served as faculty advisor to the HPU student chapter
of the American Advertising Federation for 10 years,
during which time HPU’s AAF student team won seven
District 13 championships and competed nationally at the annual AAF Student Advertising
Competition.
Varner received the HPU “Trustee’s Award for Teaching Excellence” in
1995 and was named “Women Leader of the Year” by the Organization
of Women Leaders in 1996. She holds an undergraduate degree in public relations
and a graduate degree in communication from Stephen F. Austin State University
in Texas and a doctorate from Texas A&M University.
