Department: Office of the Provost
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Compensation Band: OS-EXEC-Fiscal Year 2025-2026
FTE: 1.0
Application Review Begins
January 13, 2026; position open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
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: https://www.agbsearch.com/searches/dean-of-the-school-of-journalism-and-communication-university-of-oregon
Department Summary
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.
Position Summary
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 potential. The dean is a member of the Provost’s Council and the President’s University Leadership Team..
The dean is expected to have achieved professional distinction in one or more of the fields within the school. The dean will understand and be able to cultivate the possibilities associated with the school’s rich array of disciplines, while promoting collegiality and shared purpose.
Minimum Requirements
• PhD or highest degree in a field appropriate to one of the School’s programs.
• A distinguished record in teaching or comparable experience, research/creative activity, and professional service sufficient to merit appointment as a tenured full professor at the UO.
• Progressive record of executive leadership, including substantial experience in the management of budgets, personnel, and a multifaceted organization.
Professional Competencies
• Commitment to high-quality research, teaching, and diversity as important components of academic excellence.
• Strategic leadership and organizational management skills in an academic setting and a track record of successful collaboration.
• Experience with and/or aptitude and commitment to enable successful advocacy and fundraising on behalf of the school.
• Capacity to provide leadership and vision across the school, work well in a collaborative decision making environment, bring talents and academic values that will support the high aspirations of our faculty, and possess the ability to maintain patience and equilibrium in a job with many demands.
• Commitment to academic freedom and autonomy in academic programs and scholarly pursuits and the student experience.
• Proven experience in recruiting, developing, retaining and evaluating faculty or professional staff, and a commitment to diversity in areas of hiring, promotion and retention.
• Commitment to principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and evidence of success in fostering a diverse staff and in serving a broad community
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience developing budget policy and ability to oversee a large, complex budget.
FLSA Exempt: Yes
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit our website.
The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.
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