As another state appropriations cut threatens to pinch the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s ability to remain relevant in an ever-evolving media industry, the school’s dean search committee selected three finalists well-versed in making the most of lean budgetary times.
In an email to faculty Thursday, the school unveiled former faculty member Carol Pardun of the University of South Carolina, John Pavlik of Rutgers University and David Perlmutter of the University of Iowa as finalists to succeed Jean Folkerts as dean.
After emerging from a field of 30 viable candidates, the three will visit campus in coming weeks for public forums and further interviews, with Perlmutter’s visit beginning today.
With each finalist, the committee has offered Chancellor Holden Thorp and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Bruce Carney a distinct vision for the school, whose endeavors to keep pace — or take the lead — with changes to the journalism field will require alternative sources of funding.
“They’ll be making hard decisions about what to keep and what to cut,” said Jim Dean, dean of the Kenan-Flagler Business School and chairman of the 11-member search committee. “You can either simply reduce things as the public funds are eliminated, or you can find private funds to enhance the programs.
“We were looking for someone who could do both.”
Carney and Dean said the list of finalists is by no means exhaustive, as the search will stray from the three if none are the best fit.
“If our decision or the provost’s decision is that we haven’t seen the best candidate, then we’ll keep going,” said Dean, whose committee will submit a recommendation to Carney and Thorp.
Although Carney said he expects the school’s next dean to come from the list, he acknowledged that Dean has been in talks with professionals in the broadcasting industry.