Tom Reichert will serve as the new dean of the College of Information and Communication, taking over for the departing Charles Bierbauer.
A graduate of the University of Missouri and the University of Arizona, Reichert has served on the faculty of the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2004. He's been the head of the department of advertising and public relations since 2010.
In a statement, Reichert stressed the importance of information literacy in the current American climate.
“What comes out of this program is mission critical to the country right now," he said.
He succeeds Bierbauer, who has been dean since 2002 and oversaw the merger of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and School of Library and Information Science into the College of Information and Communications.Bierbauer announced in August his intention to step down at the end of the 2016-17 academic year.
Reichert is also president-elect of the American Academy of Advertising. In addition to his time at the University of Georgia, he has served on the faculties of the University of Alabama and the University of North Texas.
He will take over the position on Aug. 1.