News Release

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CHAPEL HILL — Dr. Tom Bowers, senior associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will become the school’s interim dean effective July 1.

"I am pleased to be able to serve the school and university in this way," Bowers said. "We have a dedicated and hard-working faculty and staff in the school, and I accepted the provost’s request with the knowledge that everyone will work hard for the school."

He will serve until a new dean is found. Dr. Richard Cole, school dean for 26 years, will step down June 30. Bowers said he will not apply for the deanship.

Dr. Robert Shelton, executive vice chancellor and provost, said, "Tom brings years of dedication, wisdom and experience to this position, and he will continue the tradition of excellence that Dean Richard Cole has demonstrated."

Bowers received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University. He joined the UNC school’s faculty in 1971, was associate dean from 1979-99 and has been senior associate dean since 1999.

In 1997, Bowers won the university-wide John L. Sanders Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Service. He won the school’s David Brinkley Teaching Excellence Award in 2002.

Bowers co-wrote "Fundamentals of Advertising Research" and has been editor of the journal Journalism Educator. His articles have appeared in Journalism Quarterly, Editor & Publisher, Advertising Age and Journalism Educator. He also has written several book chapters.

Bowers was president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in 1988-89 and chaired the Accrediting Committee of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. He represented the American Academy of Advertising on the Accrediting Council from 1999-04 and chaired the academic committee of the American Advertising Federation in 2003-04.

Bowers served two years on the university’s General Education Implementation Committee and nine years on the Building and Grounds Committee.

"There was no better choice for an interim dean," Cole said. "The school is in good hands."

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Photo URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/faculty/bowers_tom.jpg

School contact: John Kuka, (919) 966-3323

News Services contacts: Print, L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589; broadcast, Karen Moon, (919) 962-8595