Dean Russell Shain named 
as president of ASJMC

Jan. 14, 2005--Dr. Russell Shain, dean of the College of Communications at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, is serving this year as president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC).

The association is the primary membership organization for administrators of journalism and mass communications across the United States. ASJMC members first elected Shain two years ago as vice president and this year as president. The association is headquartered in Columbia, S.C., and provides professional development for journalism and mass communication administrators.

“The group has three initiatives for developing leaders of academic programs,” Shain said. “Its Journalism Leadership in Diversity program is designed to increase gender, racial and ethnic diversity in administration and senior-level positions in journalism and mass communication education. The JLID offers year-round programs to identify, recruit, mentor and train future leaders.”

In addition, ASJMC is designing initiatives this year to provide two-year training and coaching programs for new deans and directors and to provide workshops for chairs and other senior faculty interested in pursuing positions as deans and directors.

Dean Shain, who came to ASU in 1990, completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Illinois.

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