College of Media Dean finalists begin campus visits

The final four candidates for the position of Dean of the College of Media at the University began visiting campus Monday and will continue through Dec. 15. Each finalist will meet with several groups and will deliver a public presentation, according to the College of Media Web site. Whoever is elected will replace Interim Dean Walter Harrington. “The visits involve meeting with key stakeholders as well as having an opportunity to talk about their vision for the field in a public forum,” said Ruth Watkins, chair of the search committee for the new dean. Watkins said the final decision will be made by Interim Chancellor and Provost Robert Easter.

Laurence Alexander, associate dean of the University of Florida’s graduate school and professor of journalism, was the first candidate to visit the University on Monday and Tuesday. “What I bring is extensive administrative experience and skill to the position,” Alexander said. Alexander previously worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Houma (La.) Courier and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “I’ve accomplished some things in public engagement that would serve me well in terms of efforts in development and fund raising,” he said.

John Pavlik, chair of and professor at Rutgers University’s Department of Journalism and Media Studies, will visit campus Dec. 7 and 8. Pavlik said his interest in the University stems from his Midwestern roots. “My whole life I’ve been working towards creating a way to teach students to be the leaders in the media profession.” He said the position can be compared to the manager of the New York Yankees in that there is no way he could pass it up.

Steve Jones, communication professor and associate dean of the department of LAS at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will visit campus Dec. 9 and 10. Jones said he earned two degrees from the University and he has kept in touch with the program. Jones previously worked as a freelance journalist for Time Magazine. “What really makes me want the position is a sense of responsibility and a sense of giving something back to the program that means a lot to me,” he said.

Gary Kebbel, the journalism program director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and an alumnus of the University, will visit campus Dec. 14 and 15. Kebbel was a founding editor of both USAToday.com and Newsweek.com and a news editor for America Online. Kebbel said his past experience as a digital innovator can be put to use for this position. “I have contacts worldwide that could help place students in internships, jobs and bring some of the best, most exciting speakers to campus,” he said.