 A
Note
from Dean Charles
Edwards
As some of you may be aware, I recently accepted the position of dean of the
Drake College of Business and Public Administration, which I will fill in addition
to my role as dean of the SJMC.
Over the past few weeks I've spoken with faculty members from both schools about
determining an appropriate administrative organization to administer both the
SJMC and the CBPA in the upcoming academic year. The major goal, supported by
the provost, is to maintain the momentum and strong tradition of both academic
units, while capitalizing on potential collaborative opportunities.
This effort is reflected in administrative appointments in the SJMC that took
effect Aug. 1. John Lytle was appointed associate dean for academic administration
and programs, while David Wright continues as associate dean for student affairs
with additional responsibility for community outreach.
I have enjoyed my first year as dean of the journalism school and am excited
about the prospect of working with both academic units in the year ahead. Rest
assured, however, that my new responsibilities will not dilute my commitment
to the SJMC. In fact, I expect the dual deanship to benefit the SJMC in a number
of ways.
Both schools have enormous potential because of outstanding faculty, dedicated
students and rich community support. 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.
In that spirit, I would like to share a few observations gathered in my first
12 months as dean that will no doubt play a role in the SJMC's future.
I can say with confidence that through our teaching and advising, our curriculum
and our on- and off-campus experiences, we are turning out graduates who can
think, write and speak; who are global in their perspective; and who have a good
sense of their social and ethical responsibility.
We are accomplishing this by balancing the academic experience in classrooms
and student organizations across Drake's campus with the practical experience
of internships and freelance work with Des Moines-area companies.Beyond this
commitment to a practical journalism education, however, there is something else
going on here that further defines why the SJMC is a "special place."
The great strength of our school is the unique interaction of our faculty and
students. That relationship gives our students the critical edge and the passion
to be the best that Drake University has to offer.The 500-plus students who make
up the school are the best asset we have. They are bright, motivated, aware of
their community responsibility, ethical and, most important, just fun to be around!
And because of this great bunch of young professionals, there is a collective
understanding by all of us at Drake that we are dealing with the unwritten futures
of our students.
That makes me smile every day when I come to work at Drake. We have wonderful,
unselfish people who value what they do, and the end result of that effort, our
students and their accomplishments, speaks for itself.
Retirement news: I'd also like to note that Professor of Journalism and Mass
Communication Herb Strentz and Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor
of Journalism Robert Woodward have announced they will retire at the end of the
academic year. Look for more information on their contributions to the SJMC in
future issues of Reliable Source.
|
