Paul Voakes announced today that he will resign his post as dean of the CU-Boulder School of Journalism and Mass Communication and return to the faculty. The resignation will be effective June 30, 2011 so as to provide continuity through the discontinuance process. (CU Independent/Lauren Walter)
Voakes made the announcement to staff members Wednesday morning.
His resignation will be effective June 30, 2011. He will be returning to the faculty.
Provost Russell L. Moore said he will start searching for interim leadership for the school after Voakes departs as dean summer 2011.
“Paul Voakes has led our journalism program in the most difficult time in its history,” Moore said in a news release. “He has done so with character and compassion, while being a key part of the academic leadership of CU-Boulder. We thank him for his dedicated service to the university and welcome him back to the classroom.”
Voakes said he is ready to return to working with students.
“I now look forward to returning to the faculty and continuing this important work with our students,” Voakes said in the release.
Voakes has been dean at the school of journalism since July 1, 2003. Prior to heading up CU’s journalism program, he served as associate professor at the Indiana University School of Journalism.
Prior to his appointment to the Indiana University faculty in 1994, Voakes held academic positions at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.
His professional experience includes political reporting and editing. He had served as editorial writer and op-ed columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, editorial page editor for the Peninsula Times Tribune and business editor and general assignment reporter for the Palo Alto Times.
Voakes’ research interests include technological change in journalism education, law and ethics in the newsroom and First Amendment rights, according to a CU news release. He is an author of numerous journals, books and articles, as well as the recipient of several prestigious research grants, honors and teaching awards.
He received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison; a master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.
Voakes replaced Interim Dean Stewart Hoover, who served in the position while a national search was conducted.
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Contact CU Independent Editor-in-chief Kate Spencer at Katherine.a.spencer@colorado.edu.
