The College of Journalism and Mass Communications has chosen a new dean. Pending approval from the Board of Regents, Gary Kebbel will take over as dean of the college on July 1.
Kebbel was a strong candidate and should make a strong leader of the journalism school. He has vast experience with online media – he was a founding editor of USAToday.com and Newsweek.com, and most recently worked as journalism program director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. As the future of mass media shifts more toward an online and multimedia emphasis, having a leader experienced in those areas will be invaluable.
Kebbel's resume is also strong because he has worked for years in the field at various newspapers and online news sources. He should be able to direct the journalism and advertising students from the perspective of someone at a paper, magazine or advertising agency. And knowing what those businesses are looking for is key to helping students get the right education to get jobs in an increasingly competitive market.
Kebbel has been a journalist, an editor and a leader. Hopefully he will be able to draw from those experiences and really shape the journalism college into a program that will push its students into the forefront of an ever-changing industry. This won't be easy, even for the most experienced leader. No one really knows where the journalism industry will be in five years, so it's almost impossible to predict what skills students will need when they enter the job market. But if anyone is able to shape the college in this volatile time, it should be someone like Kebbel.
So good luck, Dean Kebbel. We look forward to the changes you'll bring.
opinion@dailynebraskan.com