Dean Reis takes helm at FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Veteran journalist and professor Raul Reis has assumed the deanship at FIU’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC). Reis’ goal is to position the school as a globally engaged education leader in journalism, advertising and public relations across multiple traditional, multimedia, digital and hybrid platforms. He succeeds Dean Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver.

“I am honored and humbled to be joining the talented consortium that is the SJMC, whose vision fits perfectly with my calling to the field – to produce broadly educated critical thinkers who understand, decipher, and interpret global and multicultural issues in the fields of journalism and mass communication,” Reis said. “I look forward to working with a faculty, staff and student body who embrace this vision, while expanding and enhancing upon the foundation that Dean Kopenhaver established during her tenure.”

In his new role, Reis will work with FIU Provost Douglas Wartzok and SJMC administration and faculty to fulfill his priorities for the school, which target innovation, global education and engagement with the profession and global community.  This three-pronged approach aims to position the school as an industry and education leader, an incubator for new ideas and collaborations and a connected partner closely linked to the FIU, local and global communities.

Prior to coming to FIU Reis was professor of journalism and mass communication at California State University, Long Beach, where he also served as a department chair. He began both his academic and professional career in his native Brazil where he obtained his bachelor’s degree from Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, and worked as a reporter, writer and assistant editor for a variety of newspapers. He received a master’s degree from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in Communication and Society from the University of Oregon.

During his tenure at California State University, Long Beach, he developed an innovative and successful media literacy program, taught by his students, which focused on gang violence prevention and peace building; he promoted the student publications to regional and national prominence; created global media courses that included science and environmental journalism education abroad in Brazil; led the creation of two successful video news services online, Beach News and Beach News En Español; and, more than doubled the number of internships available for students.

“The community engagement activities of FIU’s SJMC match closely with some of the work Dr. Reis has been doing in the Long Beach community. He’s led curricular changes that created cutting-edge, innovative, convergent mass media programs resulting in his department becoming one of the most respected and sought after mass media programs in Southern California,” said Provost Wartzok. “His work in these areas fits well with the emerging linkages between our School of Environment, Arts and Society and the SJMC and our community partners.”

Media Contact:  Heather Radi-Bermudez at 305-919-4411.