AU has appointed Jeffrey Rutenbeck as the new School of Communication dean, according to a memo sent out by Provost Scott Bass on April 16. He will begin July 1.
Rutenbeck received his bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Colorado College. He attended University of Missouri to achieve a master’s in journalism and received his doctorate in communication from the University of Washington.
Rutenbeck has leadership experience in communications programs for Champlain College in Vermont and University of Denver. He also served as a consultant for Microsoft and Time Warner on cultural and social change.
Rutenbeck also wrote a book about understanding technology vocabulary called “Tech Terms: What Every Telecommunications and Digital Media Professional Should Know” and has written over 30 journal articles.
Current SOC Dean Larry Kirkman will take a one-year sabbatical and return to teach at AU in fall 2013, according to the AU website.
