David Gudelunas, currently professor of communication at Fairfield University, has been named by The University of Tampa as the dean of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL).
As dean, Gudelunas will oversee the departments of art; communication, English and writing; languages and linguistics; music; philosophy and religion; and speech, theatre and dance.
Gudelunas said he is excited to promote the exceptional scholarship, creative activity and pedagogy that are happening across the disciplines and departments.
“The value of the arts, humanities and communication in contributing to cultural and information literacy, media competency, critical thinking and the full expression of human potential is increasingly self-apparent, and I think the UT College of Arts and Letters is well positioned to be a leader at this particular cultural moment,” Gudelunas said. “I look forward to getting to know the UT community and working with the greater Tampa Bay community to demonstrate what the value of a quality liberal arts education is.”
Gudelunas has been a member of the faculty at Fairfield University since 2004, serving in various roles, including professor of communication, chair of the communication department, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and director of women, gender and sexuality studies. Additionally he is the founding director of the Fairfield’s School of Communication, Arts and Media.
Gudelunas’ research is focused on the areas of emerging media, critical and cultural studies, gender, sexuality and communication, media history and communication industries. He is the author of “Confidential to America: Newspaper Advice Columns and Sexual Education” and is widely published in the areas of popular and consumer culture as well as the intersections of sexuality and communication.
David Stern, UT provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Gudelunas’ academic and leadership experience position him perfectly to lead UT’s programs in CAL.
“David will be a prominent public advocate for the value of the arts and humanities, and I anticipate that he will collaborate with faculty and with community partners to enhance the contributions of CAL to our students’ educations and to the cultural life of the Tampa Bay region,” Stern said.
Gudelunas received his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.
He will begin his post at UT on June 1.
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves 8,310 students from 50 states and 140 countries. Approximately 65 percent of full-time students live on campus, and more than half of UT students are from Florida.
