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Amy Falkner, the senior associate dean of academic affairs at the Newhouse School of Public Communications, will leave Syracuse University this summer to join Ithaca College.

Ithaca named Falkner the new dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications in a press release on Thursday. She will begin her new role on Aug. 1, said Melanie Stein, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ithaca College, in the release.

Falker joined the Newhouse faculty in 1998 and has served as senior associate dean at Newhouse since 2012. She will succeed Jack Powers, who has served as the interim dean of the Park School since 2020.

“Her experiences and qualities will serve our current and future Park School students well in preparing them for the ongoing transformation to the realm of digital media,” Stein said.

Dean Mark Lodato notified Newhouse faculty and staff of Falkner’s departure over email Thursday morning. Lodato wrote that while at SU, Falkner helped design the school’s online master’s program and facilitated the creation of the magazine, news and digital journalism department.

Lodato also detailed Falker’s time as interim dean following the passing of Lorraine Branham. While interim dean, she worked on the search for a new dean as well as navigating #NotAgainSU and COVID-19, he said.

“When I arrived at Newhouse, Amy didn’t just pass the Dean baton to me: She has continued to work tirelessly to position the school — and me — for continued success,” Lodato wrote. “I have come to count on her intuitional knowledge, wise counsel and friendship, and I am forever grateful to her.”

Falkner, who worked on SU’s diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility plan, said in the release she looks forward to transitioning to her new role at the Park School.

“The college as a whole has so many incredible programs that are very student-focused, which I love,” Falker said in the release. “My passion is what is best for students, and I feel like that is a mantra on this campus. I am thrilled to become a part of that kind of environment.”

The search for the next associate dean of academic affairs will begin immediately, Lodato said. Falkner will facilitate the transition for her successor, he added.

“She will forever be a part of the Newhouse School,” Lodato wrote.

Published on June 9, 2022 at 3:38 pm