My dad...

I am now the proud daughter of the DEAN of Communication at Harding University!! I am so excited for my dad and the new part of his job. If you are in Searcy or get to stop by, tell the newest Dean hello from his oldest and very proud daughter!!

College of Communication announced

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 6:51 PM CDT

Harding department name change to be effective with new fall semester


The Department of Communication has been redesignated a College of Communication, President David B. Burks announced recently. Effective with the Aug. 25 start of the fall semester, Dr. Mike James, department chair since 1993, will begin serving as dean.

The college will house the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Divisions of Mass Communication, Oral Communication and Theatre under the leadership of Rebecca O. Weaver, Jack Shock, Pat Garner and Robin Miller, respectively.

“This move aligns with the strategic goal of reshaping our organizational structure to match the growth and complexity of our academic programs,” said Dr. Larry Long, vice president for Academic Affairs.

“Dr. James has been a strong and effective leader in the Department of Communication, and I anticipate he will continue that tradition at the level of dean,” he added. “I look forward to working with Dr. James and the faculty in the new college. It encourages me to see the current growth and the potential for even more growth and excellence in the future.”

Formerly housed within the College of Arts and Humanities, the new college offers 10 undergraduate majors and one graduate degree. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers the bachelor of arts degree and the master of science degree in speech-language pathology.

Six areas of study are available for students in mass communication: advertising, broadcast journalism, electronic media production, Web design and interactive media, print journalism, and public relations.

The oral communication major - for teacher licensure or non-teacher licensure - sharpens the interpersonal, cross-cultural and technical skills necessary to use the voice as an effective tool. The theatre major integrates the fine arts, humanities and performing arts into one experience for all of its participants.

More than 325 students are currently pursuing a degree through the College of Communication.

The College of Communication will continue to be responsible for the award-winning student publications - the Bison weekly student newspaper and Petit Jean yearbook; VideoWorks production company; KVHU radio; a cable TV station; the fall musical production and approximately 15 plays each year; Spring Sing; and a public speech therapy clinic.

James, a distinguished professor of communication, has served as a faculty member since 1979. He began working for the University in 1973 as director of photography for the Office of Public Relations. He holds the bachelor of science degree from Harding, master of science degree from Arkansas State University, and Ph.D. from Florida State University.

He is an active member of and contributor to the Broadcast Education Association. James was one of 30 faculty members nationally and internationally selected as a 2007 faculty fellow for the National Association of Television Program Executives annual conference.

Article taken from the Daily Citizen, Searcy, Arkansas. Original article can be seen here.

They forgot to mention that he has a wonderful wife, Beth, that he met in the registration line at Harding in 1969 and they married 9 months later! He also has 4 children- Jennifer, Jeremy, Jessica and Jonathan-that are very proud of him. His 5 grandchildren are also very excited about their Papa and his new job, but really don't care as long as they still get candy and whatever they want when they come to see him at his office!! We love you dad and are so extremely proud of you! We are blessed to be one of your accomplishments!! :)