Violet JiraThe University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media has moved into the next phase of finding a dean to lead the school. Throughout the next week, the school will be hosting candidates, for presentations, forums and meetings.
On Monday, the SOJNM and the university at large welcomed the first candidate, Deanna D. Sellnow, who is currently a professor of strategic communications in the Nicholson School of Communication & Media at the University of Central Florida.
“People ask why do I want to come here,” Sellnow said during her candidate presentation. “I want to do meaningful work.”
The school will welcome three additional candidates throughout next week.
Johnny V. Sparks of the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication at Ball State University will be welcomed on Feb. 20. Andrea E. Hickerson of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina will be welcomed on Feb. 23.
Jesse J. Holland of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University will be welcomed on Feb. 25.
The SOJNM has been without a dean since the resignation of Will Norton in April 2020. Debora Wenger has been serving as interim-dean while the search for Norton’s replacement presses forward.
“On behalf of the search committee, thank you for your patience with the process,” School of Applied Science Dean Jean Grandjean wrote in an email to students, faculty and staff. “We are excited to get the dean candidates to campus! We invite and encourage you to engage with the candidates while they are here in Oxford.”
