2008 Woodie Awards
J-School looks for next director
Search committee looks for new department leader
Cassity Brewer
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications has received nearly 15 applications for director, following Director Shirley Staples Carter's resignation announcement in October.
John McDermott, co-chair of the director search committee, said the committee will narrow the search to the final three candidates by mid-March and bring them to campus for interviews. They expect to make a final decision by July 1, in time for the fall semester.
McDermott said he hopes the candidates will have an opportunity to meet with students.
"This is the best time for students to make concerns heard," he said.
The committee, composed of faculty members and two journalism students, has received applications from all over the country and is actively pursuing specific candidates, McDermott said.
McDermott said that some of the sought-after candidates come from international universities, but have not yet applied for the job.
In choosing a candidate, the committee looks at each applicant's academic and professional background, leadership skills and experience in journalism. The director must also have a doctoral degree.
"A big issue is how they affect the future of the school," McDermott said.
Carter said she hopes the committee can "find someone who can do other things in this expanding program."
Charles Bierbauer, dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, said the new director might bring something new to the school.
"Each director will lend their own personality and style to the school," Bierbauer said. He said he also hopes the director will "have a vision for what the school is now and can become."
While the journalism program continues to grow and develop, some students are looking for fresh ideas.
Sarah Langdon, a first-year visual communications student, desires practical qualities from a new director.
"I hope they find a candidate who has significant experience in the field of journalism because I think that is vital in developing a successful journalism program," Langdon said.
Langdon also said she hopes a new director could bring students closer.
"I hope they find a director that can unify the journalism school more, as the j-school does not have as strong a sense of community as other schools seem to," she said.
Carter will continue to be a professor in the school and will teach public relations management.
She also offered advice to the incoming director for the Fall 2008 semester.
"Be patient and recognize the tremendous opportunity here of finishing the job of sustaining a great journalism school," Carter said.
Carter has been director of the school for five years.
She also helped increase the number of full-time journalism faculty from 22 to 42, reducing the student-faculty ratio.
John McDermott, co-chair of the director search committee, said the committee will narrow the search to the final three candidates by mid-March and bring them to campus for interviews. They expect to make a final decision by July 1, in time for the fall semester.
McDermott said he hopes the candidates will have an opportunity to meet with students.
"This is the best time for students to make concerns heard," he said.
The committee, composed of faculty members and two journalism students, has received applications from all over the country and is actively pursuing specific candidates, McDermott said.
McDermott said that some of the sought-after candidates come from international universities, but have not yet applied for the job.
In choosing a candidate, the committee looks at each applicant's academic and professional background, leadership skills and experience in journalism. The director must also have a doctoral degree.
"A big issue is how they affect the future of the school," McDermott said.
Carter said she hopes the committee can "find someone who can do other things in this expanding program."
Charles Bierbauer, dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, said the new director might bring something new to the school.
"Each director will lend their own personality and style to the school," Bierbauer said. He said he also hopes the director will "have a vision for what the school is now and can become."
While the journalism program continues to grow and develop, some students are looking for fresh ideas.
Sarah Langdon, a first-year visual communications student, desires practical qualities from a new director.
"I hope they find a candidate who has significant experience in the field of journalism because I think that is vital in developing a successful journalism program," Langdon said.
Langdon also said she hopes a new director could bring students closer.
"I hope they find a director that can unify the journalism school more, as the j-school does not have as strong a sense of community as other schools seem to," she said.
Carter will continue to be a professor in the school and will teach public relations management.
She also offered advice to the incoming director for the Fall 2008 semester.
"Be patient and recognize the tremendous opportunity here of finishing the job of sustaining a great journalism school," Carter said.
Carter has been director of the school for five years.
She also helped increase the number of full-time journalism faculty from 22 to 42, reducing the student-faculty ratio.
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