Director - School of Journalism

Director, School of Journalism

Position Summary

The Director serves as the chief executive leader of the School, providing strategic, financial, and operational leadership in support of excellence in teaching, research, creative activity, student success, and professional and community engagement. The Director advances the School’s role and visibility within a leading public research university.

Central to this role is working in partnership with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external stakeholders to provide transparent and future-focused leadership that supports academic excellence, shared governance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Director is responsible for consistent communication, sound decision-making, equitable resource management, and responsiveness to the evolving journalism and media landscape.

The Director holds a tenured faculty appointment and reports to the Dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences.

This role offers the opportunity to direct a nationally recognized, research and grant-active School of Journalism program that offers undergraduate degrees in both Journalism and Digital Storytelling, along with a cross-department Ph.D. degree in Information & Media.

• Provide strategic direction and vision for the School in alignment with MSU and College priorities, collaborating with faculty, staff, students, and college leadership to advance shared goals.
• Manage the School’s budget and resources responsibly and strategically, including financial planning, personnel allocations, facilities, technology, and external funding oversight.
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and safe environment that values differing perspectives, constructive dialogue, and shared governance.
• Oversee personnel processes including reappointment, promotion, tenure, and advancement reviews in collaboration with college leadership and according to university policies and procedures.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and opportunities that advance emerging areas of journalism, digital storytelling, and professional practice.
• Provide leadership and oversight for undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, media, and related fields.
• Collaborate with faculty to advance innovative, future-focused curricula responsive to changes in journalism, technology, media industries, and audience engagement.
• Promote academic rigor, experiential learning, cross-platform storytelling, community-engaged learning, and professional preparation.
• Support assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement efforts to maintain high standards of academic quality and relevance.
• Advocate for infrastructure, technology, and resources supporting scholarly productivity, innovation and professional dissemination.
• Foster a student-centered learning environment that promotes belonging, engagement, access, and academic success.
• Strengthen partnerships with media organizations, alumni, professional associations, and community stakeholders to advance the School’s mission and strategic priorities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Doctorate – Journalism, Mass Communication, Media Studies, or a closely related field.

• Terminal degree (Ph.D.) in Journalism, Mass Communication, Media Studies, or a closely related field.
• Record of achievement commensurate with appointment as a tenured faculty member.
• Three years or more of demonstrated administrative or leadership experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in financial and operational management, including budget oversight, personnel management, and accreditation or program review processes (e.g., ACEJMC).
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills with demonstrated ability to build trust and work collaboratively across constituencies.
• Demonstrated understanding of contemporary journalism, media ethics, emerging technologies, and the evolving digital media environment.
• Commitment to inclusive, transparent, collaborative leadership.

• Experience with advancement, donor relations, or partnership development.
• Understanding of land-grant and R1 research missions.