The front of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media building where Raul Reis is currently dean. The Brazil Native brings 25 years of experience in the journalism field.Photo by Wikimedia Commons.

Summary 

Raul Reis is currently dean of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. Reis started the position in July 2022, following controversy with the school’s hiring process. In his new position, Reis wants to make journalism school the best in the country with an emphasis on building community, diversity, equity and inclusion within it.

Career in Journalism

Before coming to Carolina, Reis served as a professor and dean at the School of Communication at Emerson. Prior to working at Emerson, Reis held the position of dean and professor of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Florida International University. He also served as a tenured faculty member in Long Beach at California State University. 

Reis has also worked at multiple newspapers, magazines and television news stations in Brazil and the United States. 

His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications at Universidade Federal do Pará, a Master of Science in Journalism at Kansas State University and a Doctorate in Communication in Society at the University of Oregon.

Hussman School under provisional status

In May of this year, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications voted to place the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media under “provisional” status. This change was due to the school falling short of meeting the council’s diversity, equity and inclusion standards. The school has two years to meet the standards before losing its accreditation. 

To address this, Reis and the school released a four point action plan. The four points are based on the school’s stakeholders - students, faculty/staff, community and curriculum. The goal is to foster more inclusivity within the school by increasing diversity amongst the student body, faculty recruitment and curriculum. The accreditation council will reevaluate the school in January 2024.

Leadership before Reis

  • Who was dean before him?

  • When and why did she leave?

    • King stepped down on December 31, 2021

    • “I believe after 10 years a new dean will bring fresh eyes, additional perspective and new energy to our school,” King said in a statement to the media.

  • Who was interim dean in the meantime?

 

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