Dean

We are pleased to announce that Emily T. Metzgar, professor and director of the School of Journalism and Media at Kent State University, has been named the new dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State, effective July 1, 2026.

Dr. Metzgar was named director of the School of Media and Journalism at Kent State University in 2020, providing leadership and oversight for more than 600 undergraduates, 30 specialized graduate students and nearly two dozen full-time faculty members. In this role, she has guided a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening the school’s academic environment and student success.

Dr. Metzgar brings a broad professional perspective to media education, with experience spanning diplomacy, policy analysis, journalism and academia. Before joining Kent State, she served on the faculty of Indiana University’s Media School (2008–2020), including as director of the honors program (2015–2018) and director of undergraduate studies (2018–2020), where she led undergraduate education for more than 2,000 students and advanced curricular reform and new degree development. Earlier in her career, she worked in journalism in Louisiana and served as a U.S. Department of State foreign service officer in Washington, D.C., and China, including at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and as a research assistant at the National Defense University.

She also has held leadership and service roles in journalism and communication education, including as immediate past president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication and as a member of accreditation site teams.

Dr. Metzgar holds a doctorate in media and public affairs from Louisiana State University, a master of arts degree in international politics from George Washington University, and a bachelor of arts degree in political science and French from the University of Michigan.

Read the full press release here.

Jeff Kessner led this search with Robin Dougherty and Jenny Rubin.