Mark J. Lodato has been reappointed for another five-year term as the dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The decision was announced by Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew following a comprehensive review process that involved feedback from Newhouse faculty, staff, and advisory board members.
“Dean Lodato took the helm of an already strong school and managed to make it even stronger,” Provost Agnew stated. “His energetic and collaborative leadership and his emphasis on innovation, industry partnerships and an exemplary student experience have marked his five years as dean and led to many wins for Newhouse.”
Lodato’s leadership began in July 2020 and has been characterized by significant advancements and growth in the school. He played a pivotal role in founding the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism, and Citizenship (IDJC) in Washington, D.C., which aims to cultivate new knowledge and prepare students for success in media and public service.
Additionally, Lodato established the undergraduate Newhouse DC program, enhancing the school’s study-away options such as Newhouse LA and Newhouse NYC. He also launched a fully online bachelor’s degree in strategic communications, broadening access to Newhouse education and serving as an example for other Syracuse schools.
Under Lodato’s leadership, several new learning spaces have been created and renovated. The Startup Garage offers co-working opportunities for media and tech startups, while the new Sports Media Center serves as a hub for students pursuing sports communications. His tenure saw a $7.3 million increase in sponsored research funding and a focus on merging communications with technology, particularly through emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Early in his tenure, Lodato ensured salary equity among Newhouse’s faculty and staff and achieved a 17% faculty growth, contributing to a more diverse academic body.
“Working with the stellar faculty and staff of the Newhouse School has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and it has been my honor and privilege to serve as dean for the past five years,” Lodato expressed. “I am excited to continue our work together as we expand and realize our shared vision for the future of the school as a place that provides students with the best possible education and training for careers in communications. And I know that collective work is what makes Newhouse the top communications school in the country!”
Before joining the Newhouse School, Lodato spent over 14 years at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He has also worked as a television reporter and anchor in various major cities across the United States.
