The director of Ohio University's journalism school announced yesterday that he will step down in June.
Tom Hodson, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism for the last seven years, told faculty and staff he will become a full-time faculty member, according to a copy of his remarks.
In September, Hodson told Greg Shepherd, dean of the College of Communication, he wanted this year to be his last but would be willing to stay for another year. Recent circumstances surrounding (his) family
however, ended that possibility.
Hodson's wife, Jan, assistant dean of the Honors Tutorial College, is receiving chemotherapy treatment and has taken some time off work.
Under the present circumstances I feel I cannot devote the necessary time and attention to either home or work Hodson said in a statement to faculty and staff. I do not want either to suffer.
He also cited impending changes to OU in the next few years.
On the horizon in 2012 is the new building
a switch to semesters and an accreditation visit
Hodson said. My replacement needs time to settle in before all that happens. It's the ideal time for a change of leadership.
Hodson highlighted the goals he accomplished during his time at OU, such as hiring new faculty, raising money and maintaining high enrollment.
About 950 students were enrolled in the school during Fall Quarter 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, according to OU's Office of Institutional Research. The school had 22 tenure-track faculty last academic year.
Scripps is a nationally recognized journalism school, widely considered to be the best in Ohio.
At the end of the speech, Hodson thanked Shepherd, faculty and staff for their cooperation and hard work.
This is a school that I fell in love with over 40 years ago as an undergraduate ... and that love still grows daily. Hodson said. I have been honored to serve as your director ... and now
come July 1
I will be equally honored to serve the school as a full-time faculty member and as one of your colleagues.
Hodson said he was unavailable for comment because of a symposium last night.
Hodson graduated from OU in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. His most recent base salary was $108,813, according to OU's salary book.
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Kristina Hauptmann
