Journalism dean named dean at Northwestern University

Brad Hamm, dean of the IU School of Journalism, has been named dean of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications.

Hamm has been dean of the School of Journalism since 2005 and is only the fifth dean in the school’s 100-year history.

“Brad is an eloquent advocate for the power of a journalism education in the 21st century,” IU Bloomington Interim Provost Lauren Robel said in a prepared statement. “He also has been tireless in his work to keep the IU School of Journalism at the forefront of journalism education and has led the effort to internationalize our program.”

Under Hamm’s leadership, the School of Journalism tripled the number of students it sends abroad; nearly 60 percent of journalism students study abroad. The School also created the Ernie Pyle Scholars program and an annual lecture series that brings national media leaders to campus during Hamm’s tenure.

“I believe that we leave the School of Journalism in excellent shape with the new Journalism Experiences programs designed to change the lives of our students, great partnerships with state and national journalism organizations, the important financial growth and gifts in a challenging economic time, many new talented faculty and staff and a clear record of national success over the past seven years,” Hamm said in a prepared statement.

Hamm succeeds Northwestern Dean John Lavine, who has served at Medill since 2006.

“President Schapiro and I are very pleased to welcome Dean Hamm to Medill and Northwestern. He has helped transform the journalism school at Indiana, and he brings a track record of significant academic innovations and successes,” Northwestern Provost Daniel Linzer said today.

Hamm will begin at Northwestern on Sept. 1.

“I am excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity to join Northwestern and lead Medill, which is recognized both nationally and internationally for its programs in journalism and integrated marketing communications,” Hamm said in a prepared statement from Northwestern University. “I look forward to working with faculty, students, alumni, supporters and other partners in keeping Medill at the forefront of its fields.”

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— Charles Scudder