FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2003
CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119

EDWARDS NAMED DEAN OF DRAKE'S BUSINESS COLLEGE

Charles C. Edwards Jr., dean of Drake University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been named dean of Drake's College of Business and Public Administration and will begin serving as dean of both academic units on June 1.

Edwards, who joined Drake in 2002, is former publisher and president of The Des Moines Register, which won three Pulitzer Prizes and was named the best of Gannett's 97 daily newspapers three times during Edwards' tenure. He also served on the Drake Board of Trustees for 13 years, including chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee.

"The dual appointment was made for two primary reasons," said Drake Provost Ron Troyer. "First, Charlie Edwards has demonstrated a remarkable talent for handling complex tasks in both the private sector and at Drake University. He has been outstanding as dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and he has the ability to assume both deanships. Second, there are a number of synergies emerging between the two academic units, which are even developing a joint graduate program.

"As dean of both units, Charlie Edwards will be able to further develop connections and collaborations," Troyer added. "These emerging synergies present new opportunities for securing external resources to support both faculty and programs, and to develop innovative strategies for competing in the marketplace for both academic units."

"I have enjoyed my first year as dean of Drake's journalism school and am excited about the prospect of working with both academic units in the year ahead," Edwards said.

"These two schools have enormous potential because both contain outstanding faculty, dedicated students and rich community support," he continued, "and our collective goal will be to leverage these assets into additional opportunities for faculty collaboration, curriculum enrichment, professional placement for our students and additional community support."

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has 13 faculty members and approximately 470 students, while the College of Business and Public Administration has 38 faculty members and approximately 1,230 students.

Edwards has 26 years of industry and administrative experience with the Des Moines Register and Tribune Co. and the Gannett Co., Inc., including 12 years as publisher and president of The Des Moines Register. He left The Register in 1996 and spent the 1996-97 academic year teaching at Drake as the visiting professional in residence in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. In 1998, he joined Visionary Systems Ltd., a Des Moines-based software development company, as an owner and manager. In 2000, Edwards formed a second company, Iowa Title Plant LLC, which builds searchable databases of indexed public records and operates four Iowa abstract and title offices.

Edwards holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Colorado and recently received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Iowa Wesleyan College. In addition to his professional endeavors, Edwards serves on numerous boards and commissions, including the State Board of Education and the Iowa College Foundation.