Search Committee Is Planned to Find New FAMU J-Dean

A search committee will be formed to find a permanent dean for Florida A&M University's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, Larry Robinson, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said. The new dean would succeed Robert Ruggles, who abruptly departed last month.

Photo credit: Johndel Barrett /The Famuan "I will make sure our students have the highest quality of education, are marketable in their field and successful in winning journalism awards," said interim dean James Hawkins.

"Within the next week, there will be a draft of a search committee for a permanent dean and some students in the Student Government Association will be asked to be a part of the search committee," Robinson said.

He said it would take at least three months to find a permanent dean.

"The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication is our first priority and I feel that it is in excellent hands with [James] Hawkins as the interim dean," Robinson said. "Until we find a permanent dean, Interim Dean Hawkins will be able to hold the school in good standing."

Hawkins, formerly the associate dean of the school and chair of the journalism division, wants to assure students that he will continue to lead the department in the right direction.

"I will make sure our students have the highest quality of education, are marketable in their field and successful in winning journalism awards," Hawkins said.

Although Hawkins said he was sure the school was headed in the right direction, some journalism students feel otherwise.

"I think the department is up in the air right now because we've been going through different changes," said Lisa McIntosh, 19, a junior public relations student from Freeport, Grand Bahamas. "Although we are going through so many changes, I do feel that Dr. Hawkins should be able to get us back on the right track."

Even with Hawkins' assurance, many obstacles still face the school. Two open faculty positions have not been filled and it is still in doubt whether the new journalism building will be completed and equipped in time for fall.

Hawkins said he was not yet able to discuss his plans to raise the money to complete the building or install the needed equipment.

According to Hawkins, that equipment will enable journalism students to merge the newspaper, radio and television programs into one element.

Construction was slowed over the summer because of excessive rain. Hawkins said that might have hindered the ability of the school to fully utilize its new building by the projected move-in date.

"The scheduled date for the department to move in the new building was fall 2004," Hawkins said. "By the way it looks today, the date for the department to fully move in the new building will be spring 2005."

Asked if he was thinking about applying for the position of permanent dean, Hawkins said he was definitely considering it.

But, he said, "I enjoy teaching my classes and I'm not giving them up this semester," Hawkins said. "Maybe next semester I'll cut back on how many classes I teach."

Teesa Johnson is a student at Florida A&M University who writes for The Famuan. She can be reached at .

Posted Oct. 9, 2003