IDL Program

The IDL Program

The Institute for Diverse Leadership

The Institute for Diverse Leadership in Journalism and Communication is dedicated to increasing diversity in administrative and other senior-level positions in journalism and communication education.

Program Objective

IDL logo
The Institute’s objective is to identify, recruit, mentor, and train future leaders and administrators. The program seeks to develop a core group of potential leaders for journalism and communication programs who will not only be hired for administrative positions, but will succeed in them. The program will:
 
  • help individuals understand their leadership strengths and weaknesses;
  • provide a toolbox of strategies and information that will facilitate successful academic administration;
  • strengthen management, team-building and problem-solving skills;
  • provide information about ACEJMC standards and its accrediting process;
  • match each fellow with a current administrative mentor to provide a day-to-day look at the job, and provide a week-long shadow visit at the administrator’s campus; and
  • provide advice on finding the right administrative fit, as well as interviewing tips.

Universities listed are at the time of graduation from the IDL program.

IDL Jennifer McGill Fellows 2024-25

  1. Lucina Austin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  2. Dhiman Chattopadhyay, Shippensburg University
  3. Meredith D. Clark, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  4. Marlene Neill, Baylor University
  5. Juliet Pinto, Pennsylvania State University
  6. Erica Salkin, Whitworth University
  7. Adina Schneeweis, Oakland University
  8. Amy Simons, University of Missouri

IDL Jennifer McGill Fellows 2023-24

  1. MASUDUL BISWAS, Loyola University Maryland
  2. BILL CASSIDY, Northern Illinois University
  3. DEBORAH CHUNG, University of Kentucky
  4. SYDNEY DILLARD, DePaul University
  5. NATHANIEL FREDERICK II, Winthrop University
  6. YOUNGAH LEE, Ball State University
  7. REGINA LUTTRELL, Syracuse University
  8. NATHIAN SHAE RODRIGUEZ, San Diego State University

IDL Jennifer McGill Fellows 2022-23

  1. JAN LAUREN BOYLES, Iowa State University
  2. KATIE FOSS, Middle Tennessee State University
  3. HILARY FUSSELL SISCO, Quinnipiac University
  4. CHERYL ANN LAMBERT, Kent State University
  5. HOLLY OVERTON, Penn State University
  6. JESSICA RETIS, University of Arizona
  7. JAE-HWA SHIN, University of Southern Mississippi
  8. GABRIEL B. TAIT, Ball State University

IDL Fellows 2020-21

  1. Mia Long Anderson, Azusa Pacific University
  2. David Brown, Temple University
  3. Tamara Zellars Buck, Southeast Missouri State University
  4. Moonhee Cho, University of Tennessee Knoxville
  5. Celeste Gonzalez de Bustamante, University of Arizona
  6. Miao Guo, Ball State University
  7. Ammina Kothari, Rochester Institute
  8. Gerry Lanosga, Indiana University
  9. Ingrid Sturgis, Howard University
  10. Bruno Takahashi, Michigan State University

IDL Fellows 2019-20

  1. Adedayo (“Dayo”) Abah, Washington and Lee University
  2. Saleem Alhabash, Michigan State University
  3. Vanessa Bravo, Elon University
  4. Rockell Brown Burton, Texas Southern University
  5. Maria De Moya, DePaul University
  6. Felicia McGhee, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
  7. Suman Mishra, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
  8. Jennifer Potter, Towson University
  9. Gi Woong Yun, University of Nevada, Reno

IDL Fellows 2018-19

  1. Margaretha Geertsema-Sligh, Butler University
  2. Herman Howard, Angelo State University
  3. Jeannine E. Relly, University of Arizona
  4. Yong Volz, University of Missouri
  5. Mia Moody-Ramirez, Baylor University
  6. Vera Walker Hawkins, Texas Southern University
  7. Uche Onyebadi, Texas Christian University
  8. Jennifer Vardeman, University of Houston
  9. Weiwu Zhang, Texas Tech University

IDL Fellows 2016-17

  1. Linda Aldoory, University of Maryland
  2. Laura Castaneda, University of Southern California
  3. Jerry Crawford, University of Kansas
  4. Calvin Hall, North Carolina Central University
  5. Karie Hollerbach, Southeast Missouri State University
  6. Maria Len-Rios, University of Georgia
  7. Herb Lowe, University of Florida
  8. Emily Metzgar, Indiana University

IDL Fellows 2015-16

  1. Carolyn Bronstein, DePaul University
  2. Jean Grow, Marquette University
  3. Susan Keith, Rutgers University
  4. Kathleen McElroy, Oklahoma State University
  5. Gwyneth Mellinger, Xavier University
  6. Donica Mensing, University of Nevada Reno
  7. Marquita Smith, John Brown University
  8. Alice Tait, Central Michigan University

Call for Applications: 2025-26 Institute for Diverse Leadership in Journalism and Communication

 

Deadline for applications is April 15, 2025

 

Background:

The purpose of the Institute for Diverse Leadership in Journalism and Communication is to increase diversity in administrative and other senior-level positions in journalism and communication education. The Institute’s objective is to identify, recruit, mentor, and train future leaders and administrators. The Institute is co-sponsored by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC).

The Institute for Diverse Leadership in Journalism and Communication seeks applicants from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups as the program is dedicated to increasing the diversity of chairs, deans, directors, and endowed chairs in journalism and communication education. 

Applicants MUST BE current AEJMC members. Applicants must be associate or full professors interested in administration and/or journalism and communication practitioners who have moved into the academy and have a minimum of three full-time years in an academic setting. 

The IDL Jennifer McGill Fellows will participate in Institute activities while continuing to work at their home campuses. The Institute program involves four group sessions during the fellowship year, two of which will happen during AEJMC conferences. Fellows and their home institutions are expected to cover costs associated with travel to those two AEJMC annual conferences, which most members normally attend. Travel for the other components below will be funded by the Institute.  

Components:

There are three key components of the Institute:


  • Workshop Sessions — Mandatory workshops for fellows will be held at the AEJMC 2025 San Francisco Conference, the 2026 IDL Winter Workshop, the 2026 ASJMC Conference/ACEJMC Committee Meeting, and the AEJMC 2026 New Orleans Conference. Workshops will cover a variety of administrative issues, including fundraising, leadership styles and accreditation.

  • Mentor Program — The Institute will match each fellow with a current administrative mentor. The mentoring relationship consists of monthly contact via telephone or email, and a week-long visit to the mentor’s campus for a first-hand look at administrative duties at a journalism/communication program.

  • Networking — Institute fellows are introduced to current administrators during social and programming sessions at their workshops. Mentors introduce fellows to other administrators to help the fellows begin to establish networks of resources. 

Application Process:
AEJMC expects the selection process to be competitive. Applications for the 2025-26 year of the Institute should include ONE PDF file that includes the following parts: 

Part I. An “Institute Application” that answers the following questions:

  1. How has your lived experience and/or background informed your leadership?
  2. Why would this program be valuable to you now — at this stage of your career?

  3. What skills and past leadership experience do you have?

  4. Why would you like to become an administrator or have a leadership position in higher education?

  5. As a leader, how would you foster a workplace culture that values pluralism, belonging, and equal opportunities for all?
  6. What would you like to learn from the program if you were selected?

  7. What do you see as the most pressing issue for JC administrators today, and what two ideas do you have that would help? 

Part II. A vita, maximum of five pages. Vita should include:

  • current position, rank and number of years of teaching;

  • summary of professional experience;

  • leadership positions and significant service contributions to department, university, AEJMC and other academic associations; 
  • maximum listing of 10 publications, presentations and awards (total of 10 for all three). 

Part III. Two letters of recommendation. One letter should be from your immediate chair or dean, and one should come from another person familiar with your work. The letter of nomination from the immediate chair or dean must indicate the institution will provide funding for the candidate to attend the two required AEJMC annual conferences if the person is selected for the program. 

The complete packet should be converted to a PDF and emailed to: lillian@aejmc.org. The file should be called: AEJMC_Institute_(your last name). All application materials should be received by 5 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, April 15. Only complete applications will be considered. The selection process is very competitive. Up to eight fellows will be selected for the 2025-26 class. Notifications will go out mid-May. Direct questions to Lillian Coleman at lillian@aejmc.org, or Amanda Caldwell at amanda@aejmc.org.  Type “Institute Inquiry” in subject line.

Questions?

Questions about the IDL Program should be directed to Lillian Coleman at lillian@aejmc.org.

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