News
Historic Selection to Head E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
By: WOUB News Team
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Eddith Dashiell has been named the next director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University, Dean Scott Titsworth announced on Friday. Dashiell will be both the first woman and the first African American to hold the position.
“I see my role as the next director as just an extension of what I am already doing as associate director: providing my colleagues and our students with the support they need to be successful,” Dashiell said. “I am honored to know that my colleagues in the School of Journalism had such confidence in me to recommend that I be their next director. I promise to continue to work closely with them as I shift roles from associate director to director over the summer.”
Dashiell joined the school in 1992. She currently serves as associate director of undergraduate programs and previously held positions as the college’s associate dean for graduate programs and assistant dean for undergraduate programs, and as the University’s assistant provost for multicultural graduate affairs in the office of graduate studies.
“I still will need the faculty’s guidance and wisdom to continue to meet the School of Journalism’s mission of providing our students with a quality journalism education that ‘emphasizes professional excellence, critical thinking, and social responsibility’ in order to ‘maintain and enhance our democratic society and the free exchange of ideas,’” Dashiell added.
Dashiell received the University Professor Award in 1998; the Athens County Outstanding Woman of the Year award in 2005; the L.J. Hortin Faculty Mentor Award from the Scripps College of Communication in 2014; and the Chapman Clapp Outstanding Advisor Award from the University Academic Advisors Council in 2019.
“Dr. Dashiell has distinguished herself as someone who has been a tireless advocate for students. Her leadership experiences in the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism, the Scripps College of Communication, and the broader university well positions her to be an outstanding director for the school,” said Dean Scott Titsworth. “I’m excited to have Eddith rejoin the academic leadership team of the college and help students and faculty in the J-School continue expanding upon the strong successes and history of that school.”
After a career as a journalist, Dashiell taught journalism at Middle Tennessee State University and Indiana University before joining the faculty in the E.W. Scripps School.
Her teaching and interest areas include communication law, diversity and broadcast journalism.
Dashiell will take over for current director Bob Stewart, who has held the position since 2010 is retiring at the end of May.
“Bob Stewart and I have been colleagues in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism for more than 20 years, first as faculty members and later as part of the School’s administration,” Dashiell said. “I am grateful for his support and leadership as director for the past ten years. I’m going to miss him.”
Written by Sarah Logue – Director of Student Recruitment and Communication Scripps College of Communication