After 30 years at Kent State, Stan Wearden, dean of the College of Communication and Information, was named Provost and Senior Vice President at Columbia College Chicago. He will begin serving in his position beginning July 1.

In an email letter addressed to the students of the College of Communication and Information on Feb. 26, Wearden expressed excitement about taking the position, but also made note on how he will miss Kent State.

“I have loved, and will continue to love, Kent State and all the faculty, staff and students here with whom I have had the privilege of working and teaching,” Wearden said in the email.

His last day as dean of the College of Communication and Information will be June 30.

Wearden was announced as a top-two finalist for the position earlier this semester. The other finalist was Chris McCord, the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Northern Illinois University.

In 1984, Wearden’s career at Kent State began as an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He was the director of the School of Communication Studies in 2005 until he was named dean of the College of Communication and Information in 2009.

Contact Heather Inglis at [email protected]