The search for a new director of the School of Media and Public Affairs is still underway as the school restructures its curriculum.
A six-member search committee, made up of SMPA faculty and representatives from the Vice President’s Office of Academic Affairs and an outside advisory board, is in charge of reviewing and voting on potential candidates. An undergraduate student and graduate student also sit on the committee.
The interim director of the school, Steven Livingston, has held the position since Albert May left at the end of the last academic year to research politics, media and the presidential election.
The search committee began the application review process Dec. 6 and has met twice, Livingston said. He added that the committee, which he chairs, would continue the process until the position is filled.
Before leaving last year, May announced to students in April that the school would undergo some curriculum changes in order to help focus the school’s mission. A taskforce comprised of outside media professionals as well as SMPA faculty members assessed the school last year and gave recommendations for curriculum changes.
A task force report released last spring suggested phasing out the electronic media major, while keeping the political communication program and expanding the journalism program. An implementation committee is currently working to enact the recommendations of the task force. The electronic media program is no longer accepting new students, though non-majors can still take courses in the field. Livingston said the changes will play a role in who is chosen to be the new director.
“We are looking for someone who will take full advantage of the hard work the SMPA faculty and others have put into the implementation report,” Livingston said. “I suspect that by the time a new director comes on board much of what has been recommended by the report will have been acted upon by SMPA faculty.”
Livingston said a decision could be made by the spring, adding,,”At this point, I would have to say the cut-off is when we hire someone. It is still early in the process, but we have made good progress.”
Livingston called for a director who “will provide vision, unity and leadership” for the school in a position description. Applicants are required to have a background in media, politics and public policy. Candidates will also be considered from careers outside of academics, such as research and public affairs.
