Tuesday, September 11, 2001

Dean candidate visits, stresses prominence
By John-Mark Day

Slater is being considered by TCU to fill the dean position that is entering its third year of vacancy.

As dean, Slater said he would want to bring the College of Communication to national prominence.

“There is no reason this can’t be the premiere institution in the country,” he said.

Slater said unique programs, encouraging faculty in creative activity and placing students in good jobs contributes to that national prominence.

Erin Munger - Photo Editor John-Mark Day, a junior news-editorial major, interviews William T. Slater, dean of the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada-Reno. Slater is a candidate for the position of dean of the College of Communications at TCU.

“(TCU) students are putting out a quality product,” he said. “That provides extensive visibility for the university.”

Slater, who received a doctorate in communication from Stanford University, is currently the Dean of the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada-Reno. He has been on the faculty of several different schools including the University of Arizona and the University of Southern California, and has served as assistant to the governor of Massachusetts.

Slater said although he has several short stints at universities in his career, he would feel comfortable staying at TCU.

“I have probably one more move in me,” Slater said. “It would need to be some place I would be comfortable in retirement.”

Slater said one of the areas of concern for a dean is fund raising for the college.

“Fundraising is a critical part of the job,” he said. “It is necessary to generate private sources of income.”

Roger Cooper, chair of the department of radio-TV-film, said Slater’s emphasis on fundraising will help the department.

“He seems to have a really strong background in fundraising, something our college is in need of,” Cooper said.

Chuck LaMendola, radio-TV-film professor, said experience will help Slater at TCU.
“There’s nothing he hasn’t seen before,” LaMendola said.

LaMendola was able to see a different side of Slater than most when they went to the TCU-SMU game Saturday night.

“He wanted to go to the game,” LaMendola said. “He’s a very personable man. He had a very good time.”

LaMendola said several of his students stopped by at the game to talk, and Slater was interested in getting to know them.

“He’s already seemingly taken to TCU,” LaMendola said. “He seemed like he had been here for years.”

John-Mark Day
j.m.day2@student.tcu.edu