UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has opened a national search for the next dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.
As one of the largest accredited mass communications programs of its kind in the U.S., the Bellisario College offers the resources of an R1 institution with the personalized support and environment of a small school. The college enrolls more than 2,800 students across four academic departments and is home to 80 full-time faculty, 60 part-time faculty and 58 staff. It is renowned for its hands-on approach to education, integrating classroom instruction with real-world experience through campus media, internships, and state-of-the-art facilities like the Bellisario Media Center. Denise Bortree, associate dean of academic affairs and a professor, has been serving as the interim dean of the college.
Reporting to the executive vice president and provost, the dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the college, and will guide faculty, students and staff in developing an exciting vision for its next chapter as well as the strategic direction to get there successfully. The dean has broad oversight of the college’s financial management, resource allocation and fundraising efforts. The dean is also responsible for advancing the college’s teaching, research, service and outreach programs and ensuring alignment with Penn State’s institutional goals and the University’s strategic priorities.
To ensure the college’s continued growth as well as academic and professional distinction, the next dean will address the following key opportunities and challenges:
- Set an innovative and ambitious vision for the next chapter of the college.
- Elevate national visibility and champion the college’s excellence.
- Strategically drive fundraising efforts while strengthening alumni and industry engagement.
- Effectively steward resources while managing a new budget model.
- Develop, lead and inspire a strong, service-oriented faculty and staff.
- Collaborate, engage, and communicate with the Penn State community..
- Steward the college’s physical growth and infrastructure needs
Inquiries, nominations, referrals and CVs with cover letters should be sent to the search for the dean, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, page via the Isaacson, Miller website.
The preferred candidate will hold a doctorate and a scholarly record appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of professor within the College. In extraordinary cases, the University will consider candidates with professional backgrounds outside the academy who demonstrate great leadership talent and the potential to excel.
The search committee, chaired by Clarence Lang, the Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and professor of African American studies, is as follows:
- Gary Abdullah, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Christopher Ali, Pioneers Chair in telecommunications and professor of telecommunications, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Wilhelmina Antwi, doctoral student and graduate teaching assistant, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Kathy Bieschke, senior vice provost and interim dean of Undergraduate Education and professor of education
- Shannon Brace, activities and special events coordinator, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Yu Tai Chung, director of information technology, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Andrea Miller, assistant professor of telecommunications and media industries and of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; director of the Feminist Technocultures Lab, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Julie L. Miller, manager of internships, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Holly Overton, associate professor of advertising/public relations and director of master’s programs and graduate studies, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Rachel Pell, vice president for Penn State Strategic Communications
- Amy Kristin Sanders, John and Ann Curley Professor of First Amendment Studies, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Allison Saras, director of development, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Maura Shea, associate teaching professor and associate department head of Film Production and Media Studies, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Fuyuan Shen, head of Department of Advertising/Public Relations and Donald P. Bellisario Professor of Advertising, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- S. Shyam Sundar, Evan Pugh University Professor and director, Penn State Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence; James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects; co-Director, Media Effects Research Laboratory; Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- Pauline Thompson, administrative fellow for Faculty Affairs and professor of psychology, Penn State Brandywine
- Gabriella Wong, film production major, Class of 2026; Bellisario College Fellow and managing director, CommAgency