Virginia Commonwealth University

(VCU) invites nominations and applications for an exceptional leader to serve as the next director of the

Richard T. Robertson School of Communication

(the Robertson School). This is an exciting opportunity to lead a dynamic and nationally accredited program at one of the nation's premier urban public research universities.Reporting to the dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, the director serves as the academic and administrative leader of the Robertson School, fostering a culture of excellence in learning, teaching, research, creative activity and institutional development.

Founded in 1978 and successfully reaccredited in 2025, The Robertson School is one of the largest units in the College of Humanities and Sciences. It is also one of only 120 select journalism and mass communication programs accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. The Robertson School offers professional undergraduate and graduate programs and an interdisciplinary doctoral program in an environment that values the strong foundation of liberal arts and sciences necessary for professional communicators combined with an emphasis on professional and research excellence as well as on experiential learning and required internships for all undergraduate students.

Located in the capital city of Richmond, Virginia, VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden-Sydney College; became the Medical College of Virginia just shy of two decades later; and merged with the Richmond Professional Institute in 1968 to create its current identity as a top 50 National Science Foundation public research university and health system. VCU provides unparalleled access for its students while producing ground-breaking research across all its disciplines. With a record $506 million in sponsored research funding in FY2024, VCU is a member of and oversees national research consortia while also providing an exceptional undergraduate experience with a commitment to access. VCU has a total enrollment of more than 28,000 students and is currently experiencing annual growth. It employs more than 26,000 faculty and staff across its college campus and health system.

The director will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the School by championing career readiness and student success. This includes supporting and expanding initiatives that bridge academic learning with real-world application including internships, employer engagement, and career education, ensuring that students are well-prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving media and communication landscape. The ideal candidate recognizes the need to have a robust mix of scholars and practitioners to achieve these goals and to align with the R1 mission of the university. The director will collaborate with all key stakeholders in executing the School's strategic plan.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated a distinguished record of individual professional and/or academic accomplishment and leadership in one or more of the Robertson School's fields of study, as well as a passion for advancing the professional and academic pursuits of advertising, journalism, media production and public relations. The ideal candidate will be a highly accomplished academic leader, hold an earned terminal degree, and bring a distinguished academic record that merits appointment as a tenured full professor at VCU.

WittKieffer is assisting Virginia Commonwealth University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 2nd, 2025. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile available at

www.wittkieffer.com .

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's

candidate portal .

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Melissa Fincher and Jenna Brumleve

VCUDirectorRobertsonSchool@wittkieffer.com

The material presented in this position specification should be relied on for informational purposes only. This material has been copied, compiled, or quoted in part from VCU documents and personal interviews and is believed to be reliable. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and factual situations govern.

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability.

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