Provost names Interim Dean

Interim Provost Ed Feser announced that Professor Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko has agreed to serve as interim dean of the College of Media, assisted by Professor and Associate Provost Bill Bernhard, who will become interim executive associate dean. The appointments were effective June 6 in “designate” status, while awaiting approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Wojtek, who is currently serving as the dean of the Graduate College, is the Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor of Applied Health Sciences. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of London and a Ph.D. in kinesiology from Purdue University. In his role as Graduate College dean, Wojtek leads campus efforts in setting policies, defining standards and enabling excellence in graduate programs, graduate research and graduate student life. He has extensive administrative and financial management experience as a former department head in Applied Health Sciences and now dean. He will continue to serve as dean of the Graduate College during the period of his appointment as interim dean of the College of Media.

Bill Bernhard, a professor of political science, is a specialist in international political economy. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in political science from Duke University. Like Wojtek, he is an experienced administrator, a skilled communicator and a careful steward of shared governance. He is a former head of the Department of Political Science and is currently associate provost for Faculty Development. He developed a good working knowledge of opportunities, issues and concerns in the College of Media through his recent service assisting the dean’s review committee. Bill will continue to serve as associate provost during the period of his appointment as executive associate dean.