JMS Welcomes a New Director for Fall 2020

Temple Northup named the new Director of the SDSU School of Journalism and Media Studies

by Baylee Akins

April 16, 2020

April 16, 2020

The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts welcomes a new face this summer. Temple Northup, current Director of the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston, will be joining us in July as the new Director of the School of Journalism and Media Studies.

Northup brings years of strategic communications and media experience to the table, and expresses his excitement for joining the School of JMS after years of admiring it from afar.

“Over the past few years, I have seen some of the new and innovative things coming out of this School, including new courses in the curriculum and the research being done by faculty,” Northup begins, “I have viewed this program as one that I think is doing things right and it excites me to be joining a program that already has a strong foundation.”

Another factor that drew Northup to the School was the strength and dedication of the student body. After meeting with a handful of students during his visit to campus earlier in the year, Northup detected a level of engagement with the School and related clubs that resonated with him. Northup says, “One of the most important success indicators of how well a program is doing is by the enthusiasm of its students, and the spirit here is clear, strong and contagious.”

During his leadership over the past five years at the University of Houston, Northup has taken the time to assess the level of education in our field and develop a vision for the future—a strong vision that he intends to use to elevate the School of JMS to reach new heights, setting his sights on nationwide accolades.

His personal accolades include a global appeal to speak about media and communication, especially in Indonesia, China and Taiwan. These engagements have allowed him to develop not only a global perspective, but truly a global network of colleagues.

Northup’s personal research draws upon his interest in the psychological aspects of media, and focuses on understanding how the media influences our attitudes and behaviors. He has been published in a wide array of peer-reviewed journals, including Media Psychology and Applied Cognitive Psychology. Popular with the media, he has been a regular guest on Houston Matters and his research has been featured everywhere from the Los Angeles Times to USA Today.

Interim Director Noah Arceneaux extends his excitement surrounding Northup’s appointment and is confident in his ability to continue to push this School in the right direction. Dr. Arceneaux will remain a prominent member of the School of JMS and as he returns to teaching in the fall.

As a final note, Northup further states his elation for joining the SJMS family.

“I cannot wait to get on campus and meet everyone in person. I truly believe that together, we can take this school to new heights!”

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

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