Dean

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) seeks a visionary, dynamic, and engaged leader to serve as the next dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications (the College). This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the nation’s top-ranked colleges of communications at a moment of extraordinary momentum and promise. The College stands at the forefront of a rapidly evolving communications landscape across the disciplines housed within it. With cutting-edge facilities, a world-class faculty, dedicated staff, ambitious students, and a highly engaged alumni network, the College is uniquely positioned to shape the future of media, journalism, advertising, public relations, film, and telecommunications. The next dean will harness this energy to elevate the College’s national and global impact, champion innovation, and expand its reputation as a thought leader in the field.

Penn State is an internationally renowned public research university and a proud member of both the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA). Penn State is one of only three institutions in the U.S. accorded land grant, sea-grant, sun-grant, and space-grant status. Penn State ranks 30th among U.S. public universities and 63rd overall by U.S. News & World Report for 2025. Penn State’s University Park campus houses the University’s central administration, its renowned graduate and undergraduate programs, and its NCAA Division I Athletics Department. The campus is home to approximately 49,000 graduate and undergraduate students and more than 12,000 full-time faculty and staff. 

As one of the largest accredited mass communications programs in the country, the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications offers the resources of an R1 institution with the personalized support and environment of a small school. Enrolling over 2,800 students across four academic departments, the College is renowned for its hands-on approach to education, integrating classroom instruction with real-world experience through campus media, internships, and state-of-the-art facilities like the Bellisario Media Center. The College has experienced great success and growth over the last two decades, enabling the College’s faculty and staff to provide opportunities and experiences unmatched by other communications programs. The College cultivates alumni who are leaders and changemakers with enduring ties to the institution. This strong affinity fuels generous philanthropic and resource support, sustaining the College’s momentum and expanding its impact.

Penn State seeks candidates who can provide collaborative and strategic leadership—both within the College and across the University—by championing the College as a vital educational and intellectual resource. The ideal candidate will actively foster partnerships and strengthen the College’s role as a dynamic contributor to the broader community. The preferred candidate will hold a terminal degree and a scholarly record appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of professor within the College. In extraordinary cases, the University will consider candidates with professional backgrounds outside the academy who demonstrate great leadership talent and the potential to excel.

The dean will bring a forward-looking vision for the College, one that embraces the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and responds to the evolving media landscape shaped by other emerging technologies. The dean will understand the importance of creating an inclusive environment and ensuring that the entire College community is given opportunities to thrive and grow. The dean should demonstrate inspiring leadership qualities, exceptional interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills, be an active and visible presence on campus, and have a familiarity with the accreditation process through the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Additionally, the dean should be an experienced fundraiser with the ability to forge strong relationships and engage donors, alumni, and industry leaders in supporting the strategic priorities of the College. 

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.

Jeff Kessner is leading this search with Robin Dougherty and Jenny Rubin. 

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.