UNC names interim dean to lead Hussman School of Journalism starting in January
An interim dean has been named to lead UNC-Chapel Hill’s journalism school, which has had a tumultuous year.
Professor Heidi Hennink-Kaminski has been promoted to interim dean of the Hussman School of Journalism, the school announced Friday afternoon. Hennink-Kaminski replaces outgoing dean Susan King, who announced she would step down from the top job in August.
King is expected to remain on the school’s faculty as a professor. She had served as the journalism school’s dean since 2012.
Hennink-Kaminski, who has been at UNC since 2006, will start as interim dean at the first of the year, while a national search continues for King’s permanent successor.
“Our school generally — and I personally — have been fortunate to operate with an incredible leadership team of senior associate deans — Heidi Hennink-Kaminski, Charlie Tuggle and Louise Spieler,” said King in a news release. “Their commitment, dedication and long hours have made a difference in the school and in student lives. That tremendous service ethic continues with Professor Hennink-Kaminski transitioning into the interim dean role while the University continues its search.”
Hennink-Kaminski joined UNC following a 15-year marketing career, the school said.
“We thank Dean King for a decade leading an era of great change and progress for our school,” said Hennink-Kaminski. “I’m honored to step into this role of working with faculty and staff colleagues to help manage our school through this time of transition and opportunity.”
UNC-Chapel Hill’s journalism school has been a center of controversy over the past year, following the university’s handling of an attempt to hire Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur grant winner Nikole Hannah-Jones.
The prominent journalist and UNC alumna was offered a position as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism, but the contract initially did not include tenure. Ultimately Hannah-Jones declined UNC’s job offer and accepted a tenured position at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
The school’s namesake and top donor, Walter Hussman Jr., had expressed concerns about the hiring or Hannah-Jones.
This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 1:53 PM with the headline "UNC names interim dean to lead Hussman School of Journalism starting in January."
