Dear College of Comm community,
I’m finding this message bittersweet, as it is my last time addressing you all as acting dean. On March 1, Acting Provost Sarah Feldner will be rejoining the college as the dean and I will resume my prior role as professor of strategic communication and associate dean of academic affairs. Many of you have had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Feldner, either as an alum or as a student.
I’ve witnessed so many wonderful things in the college during my time as dean; our burgeoning student sports productions are among the best. If you’ve watched a Marquette soccer or volleyball match on ESPN+, you may be surprised to know that students are running replays, operating the cameras and working in the control room. This is an incredible achievement, as these productions require coordination and practice for the product you see on screen. The fact that our students can do this on a regular basis is a credit to our faculty, staff and the professionals working with them.
In this newsletter, you will also read about the ways we incorporate ethics into the college curriculum. The information environment has only gotten more fraught during my time as dean. AI content is being produced at previously unimaginable volumes and new tools make it easier than ever to obfuscate the truth at scale. Our ethical compass is incredibly important, and I’m encouraged to read about the measures our faculty are taking to maintain Catholic, Jesuit moral principles with our students. This commitment to developing character is shown in driven alumni like Wall Street Journal reporter Patrick Thomas, Comm ‘18, a bold truth-seeker at the highest levels of his profession. You’ll also read about how his time at Marquette shaped the way he approaches his work for one of the country’s most read publications.
Patrick is proof positive of something I’ve been telling students since day one of my time here: they can get anywhere from Marquette. I exit the acting deanship believing that more strongly than ever. It has been an honor to serve as a steward for the college’s rich legacy, and a privilege to meet so many of you along the way. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for our college.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kati Berg
Acting Dean of the Diederich College of Communication
