Dr. Hesse chaired the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Alabama from 1977 to 1985. His specialties were, and continue to be public relations, advertising, and international communication. He has taught a wide range of graduate and undergraduate courses in mass communication research, communication theory, communication ethics, journalism and persuasive communication.

Dr. Hesse has written more than 50 articles on mass communication. He is a member of the editorial review boards of the Public Relations Review, the Journal of Public Relations Research and the Journal of Urban Affairs. In 1984 Dr. Hesse created the European Communication Studies ProgrammeÔ- a unique and intensive six-week student program of communication study in selected media capitals in England and Western Europe. In 1985, he chaired an international commission composed of leading educators and corporate executives and designed a model curriculum for graduate study in public relations. He was a contributing author to Using and Understanding Video by Longman and is an active consultant to several governmental and industrial organizations including the Department of Defense, the White House and Bell South. He has traveled and lectured extensively in England and Western Europe. In November of 1996, Dr. Hesse lectured to communication professionals in selected cities within the Republic of Germany at the invitation of the United States Department of State.
Professor Hesse earned his college degrees from the University of Cincinnati, American University and the University of Wisconsin. He is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the International Public Relations Association, the International Association of Business Communicators, the Public Relations Society of America and the Public Relations Council of Alabama. Dr. Hesse also possesses certification in Shipyard Competency-HazMats (May 1993).

Dr. Hesse has worked with the Washington Post, CBS and NBC television news in Washington, the Public Relations Society of America in New York and was a television newsman with WLW-D in Dayton, Ohio.

He is currently listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Public Relations, Who's Who in Advertising in the South, Who's Who in American Education, Directory of American Scholars, the International Biography of Scholars, International Businessmen's Who's Who, International Authors and Writers Who's Who, International Register of Profiles, International Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement, International Who's Who if Intellectuals, Men of Achievement, Personalities of the South and Two Thousand Notable Americans.