Stewart M. Hoover
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Stewart M. Hoover
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Professor Stewart Hoover selected
as interim dean
Professor Stewart M. Hoover--an internationally renowned media, religion and culture scholar--was selected this spring as interim dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, replacing Willard D. "Wick" Rowland Jr., who resigned in February to join the faculty.
He said his main responsibility is to keep a good thing going.
"I think Wick is leaving everything in good shape," Hoover said. "Not a lot needs to be done."
There are some things, however, that will require his close attention, he said. They include fund-raising, the continued development of the School's Advisory Board, the summer 2001 relocation of the School to the Armory building and the ongoing reaccreditation process.
"I believe that Stewart will provide quality leadership that will be important during this transition," said Phil DiStefano, vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Hoover said the School has the right people in the right places to help him administratively.
"We've got good people in place, both among the deans and among the School's staff. Having them there makes me confident we can have a smooth transitional year," he said.
As interim dean, Hoover said he anticipates extending his involvement outside the School.
"CU-Boulder is a place where we value our regular cross-campus contact and cooperation as faculty," Hoover noted, "but this will give me experience at administrative levels as well.
"It always helps the School to have faculty who have more connections on campus," he said. "I think I'll come out of this as a faculty member more useful in terms of who I'll meet and what I'll be doing, and I'll have more contacts with the administration."
Hoover also holds appointments in religious studies and American studies. He joined the CU-Boulder faculty in 1991. Prior to coming to CU he held teaching and administrative positions in the School of Communications and Theater at Temple University. Hoover earned his doctorate in communications from the University of Pennsylvania.
He is the author of a number of journal articles and books, including "Mass Media Religion," "Religion in the News: Faith and Journalism in American Public Discourse," and "Religion in the Media Age," currently in progress.
Taking on his new role as interim dean meant Hoover had to restructure some of his scholarly commitments.
"The School's faculty has built an impressive reputation for our research and creative activities, and it is important that those in leadership contribute to that reputation. At first I was concerned about whether that could be done," he said.
"But it has to be an expectation that our Dean be a productive scholar. I'll continue to write and do research."
An active researcher, he has received several grants and fellowship awards, and is a frequent lecturer and seminar leader. His consulting and professional experience includes membership on the advisory boards of the Public Religion Project at the University of Chicago, and the Center for Religion and the News Media, Northwestern University.
DiStefano said a search to fill the dean's position will begin this summer. Hoover's appointment is for one year beginning July 1 pending approval by the CU Board of Regents.