Dean, School of Journalism & Communication

Department

Department: Office of the Provost

Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Compensation Band: OS-EXEC-Fiscal Year

FTE: 1.0

January 13, 2026; position open until filled

To apply to this position, please submit a current curriculum vitae and cover letter addressing how your experience aligns with and has prepared you for this position, to AGB Search:

Founded in 1916, the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) is one of the oldest journalism programs in the nation and remains the only comprehensive accredited journalism and communication program in the Pacific Northwest. The SOJC aims to foster global citizens, scholars, and innovative professionals who value the richness and strength of a diverse community. As one of six professional schools at the University of Oregon, the SOJC has a strong focus on career readiness while contributing to the University Research I mission by integrating theory and practice throughout all aspects of the school’s mission.

The SOJC has a long and storied legacy of success inside and outside the academy, including sixteen Pulitzer Prizes among faculty and alumni.

The SOJC has close to ninety faculty and more than two thousand students. The school offers undergraduate majors in advertising, journalism, media studies, and public relations, as well as minors in media studies, game studies, science communication, and documentary film production. Additionally, the SOJC offers a Ph.D. and research‑focused master’s program in Communication and Media Studies as well as professional master’s degrees in Advertising and Brand Responsibility, Journalism, Immersive Media Communication, Multimedia Storytelling, and Strategic Communication.

The SOJC operates from campuses in both Eugene and Portland. SOJC Eugene houses the Center for Science and Communication Research, which explores how researchers and communication professionals can share scientific discoveries with the public, and the Experience Hub, which includes a cutting‑edge immersive media lab, professional‑quality podcast studio, social media analytics lab, a broadcast/photography studio, and editing bays. SOJC Portland is home to the Agora Journalism Center, an exemplar of community‑engaged journalism, as well as the Oregon Reality (OR) Lab, a multidisciplinary facility for immersive media and communication innovation.

Big ideas, cross‑disciplinary work, critical thought, and dialogue—these ideas resonate deeply for academics and professionals working in journalism and communication today. In the evolving global landscape, the role that media professionals and scholars play in fostering understanding, building trust, and leveraging innovative technologies wisely and effectively has never been more important. The moment is clear for the SOJC: emerging technologies and shifting media ecosystems bring both exciting opportunities and intense responsibilities for journalism and communication fields.

The next dean must have a clear vision for the future of journalism education that is grounded in the traditions and history of a democratic society and the SOJC’s legacy but not blinded by or locked into the past. The dean must at the same time embrace the future of the communication professions and be willing to do the hard work of creating space for faculty, students, and alumni who can see and achieve that future.

Reporting to the provost and senior vice president, the dean of the School of Journalism and Communication is the chief academic and administrative officer for the school and is responsible for developing and implementing academic strategies; recruiting and retaining faculty, students, and staff; and managing organizational and financial structures that promote excellence in research, scholarship, creative practice and education.

The dean will work with university administration, faculty, alumni and other internal and external leaders to promote the national and international visibility of the school and to ensure that resources align with its strategic objectives and…