The challenge of keeping the Ohio University Scripps College of Communication relevant was the focus of the first public forum for the college’s dean search.
Angela Powers participated in an open forum during her two-day visit to campus yesterday as the first of three finalists for the dean position. She began her presentation by listing what she saw as strengths in the Scripps College of Communication.
Her presentation continued into the challenges the college will be facing in the upcoming years.
“I’m particularly interested in the structure of the college and learning more,” she said.
Powers is a professor and director of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University, where she has worked for the past eight years.
Powers spoke about creating relevance in the programs and communicating that relevance to the schools’ constituents.
“We constantly have to be talking about what we are offering, what we do and the skills our students learn in whatever field they end up going into,” she said.
Powers said she has encountered similar challenges at KSU, including relevance in curriculum, how to increase diversity, sustainability and the engagement of alumni.
“Deans need to always be ready to tell their story and always have a plan,” she said.
Powers laid out in her presentation what she plans on accomplishing if she is hired and her qualifications for the dean position.
Her list included emphasizing shared governance, respecting confidentiality, developing priorities and enabling faculty to do their jobs well.
“I believe it is the responsibility of the dean to create an atmosphere where students and faculty can be comfortable to do their work,” she said.
After her presentation, she opened the floor to attendees for a Q-and-A session.
Several audience members asked about Powers’ goals regarding diversity and international students’ experiences at OU.
“Diversity is an important part of my portfolio in which I believe providing diversity opens a wide realm of possibilities,” she said.
Powers, adding that since she comes from a very homogeneous student population, said open discussions should be planned to promote an atmosphere that is confortable for all.
In relation to international experience, Powers said she believes her experience has made her more flexible and will be helpful in the dean position because of her travels and interactions.
“Part of my personality is my want to learn about other cultures and to experience new things,” she said.
Finally, Powers talked about her openness and commitment to both the student body and faculty.
“I would like the students in classes to know who I am, and I think it’s important for students to know the structure of their college,” she said.
If she is named dean, Powers said, she plans to create a student advisory council to meet with students on a regular basis.
About 30 students and faculty members attended the forum.
“This is a major step, and I definitely would like to play a part in the future of the school,” said Nadja Panchenko, a graduate student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
At the end of the forum, all in attendance were encouraged to fill out an evaluation form to list the positive attributes and contributions the candidate might bring to OU as well as to raise any concerns.
Powers is the first of three Scripps College of Communication finalists that will be invited to campus for two days and will hold similar schedules.
The other candidates include Laurence Alexander, a journalism professor and associate dean of the Graduate School at the University of Florida, and Stuart Brotman, president of Stuart N. Brotman Communications, a global consulting firm.
The finalist chosen will replace former dean Greg Shepherd, who accepted a position as dean at the University of Miami’s School of Communication last year.
“I was impressed before I came, and I am doubly impressed by the end of my first day here,” Powers said.
af234909@ohiou.edu
