Harsha Gangadharbatla has been appointed interim dean of the University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media, succeeding Raul Reis, effective August 1.
Harsha Gangadharbatla has been named the interim dean of the University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media, effective August 1. He takes over from Raul Reis, who stepped down after four years in the role to focus on research and teaching.
Currently serving as the senior associate dean for academic and faculty affairs, Gangadharbatla also holds the Hugh Morton Distinguished Professorship. His appointment comes as the university prepares to initiate a national search for a permanent successor.
With over a decade of administrative experience in higher education, Gangadharbatla has previously made significant contributions at the University of Colorado Boulder. There, he was instrumental in the establishment of the College of Media, Communication and Information, the first new college created at CU Boulder in 53 years. He also served as the associate dean of faculty development and was the founding chairperson of the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design.
Gangadharbatla’s academic journey began in India, where he earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology. He later moved to the United States, where he completed a master’s degree in advertising at Michigan State University and obtained a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
His scholarly work encompasses the role of technology in advertising, the societal impact of advertising, and environmental communication. Throughout his career, Gangadharbatla has held leadership positions, including serving as the past president of the American Academy of Advertising, which represents over 500 advertising academics, and as the former head of the advertising division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Gangadharbatla has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the field, including the Charles H. Sandage Award for Teaching Excellence and the William Payden Award for Faculty Excellence.
University officials have expressed confidence that Gangadharbatla’s multidisciplinary background, which bridges engineering and strategic communication, will effectively guide the Hussman School during this transitional period.
According to The American Bazaar, his appointment marks a significant step for the school as it seeks to navigate the challenges of leadership change.