Associate dean of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts William Elliott says he is leaving SIUC effective Jan. 1 and will miss the friends he has made over his nine years at SIUC.

I will miss the students and my colleagues the most, Elliott said. The diversity of the students is one of the real strengths of this University. And I’ve established close relationships with my colleagues, both inside and out of this college, whose wisdom and support I will miss.

Elliott said he has accepted the position of dean of the College of Communications for Marquette University, a private university in Wisconsin. Elliott said of the 8,000 students of Marquette University, nearly 1,000 are enrolled in the College of Communication. Marquette University is an excellent school with a very good reputation within its region, Elliott said. They are structured similar to this college. The communications college has about the same number of faculty and students, and has a strong and well-established mass communications program. Also, they were very anxious and interested in having me.

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Elliott said he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon in 1964 and earned his doctorate in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1972. Elliott began teaching at the School of Journalism at the University of Kentucky and later taught at the University of Oregon and Philadelphia’s Drexel University, where he directed a graduate program in technical science communication. He said he joined the SIUC faculty in 1987, and said he has had a wonderful time since then.

It has been a source of pride working with the school of journalism on developing nationally recognized programs with strong graduate and undergraduate degrees, he said.

Joe Foote, dean of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts, said Elliott has been instrumental in improving graduate education in the SIUC School of Journalism.

Bill Elliott has made an extraordinarily positive impact on graduate studies in the School of Journalism, serving as graduate director in the school, Foote said. He is the architect of a new doctorate degree program in mass communication, which we hope to approve this year.

Foote said he will begin an internal search for Elliott’s replacement later this month.

Foote said Elliott’s strong leadership capabilities pioneered the formation of the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts two years ago.

Elliott served on the Phoenix Committee, which was responsible for changing the former College of Communication and Fine Arts into the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts, Foote said. When it looked like there might not be a new college, Elliott’s strong leadership skills pulled it through.

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As he prepares to leave, Elliott said it has been a pleasure to work with the students and faculty of the University.

It’s been a privilege to work with students, faculty, and administration here, Elliott said. SIUC has been a wonderful place for me.