Harold N. Hild, professor emeritus, communication, media and theatre, died on Sunday, October 18, 2009, due to complications of esophageal cancer.

Hild began teaching classes at NEIU in 1968. He served on the English department faculty before teaming with Audrey Reynolds, professor emerita, linguistics, to form the English Language Program (ELP). The ELP was a ground-breaking program designed primarily to help students whose first language was not English develop college-level writing skills.

Inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks, who taught a class that he took while working toward his master's degree at NEIU, Hild became a poet as well as a scholar of English literature. Most recently he taught poetry interpretation classes in the communication, media and theatre department, where he served as professor and chair.

In August, Hild and Reynolds returned to campus for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new Center for Academic Writing (CAW), located in the Ronald Williams Library.