Mills to take year off

By Roseann Moring

Published May 1, 2007

Dean Mills will take a year off from his duties as dean of the School of Journalism to focus on the planning of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute construction project, Provost Brian Foster announced Friday.

Foster said Esther Thorson, associate dean and director of research at the journalism institute, will fill the role of interim dean beginning this summer.

"One reason he can do this is that Esther is quite wonderful, and she will be a great acting dean," Mills said.

Mills will keep a portfolio of oversight of the Reynolds Institute, Foster stated in a news release.

"He will concentrate most of his energies in the coming year to overseeing the development and program-planning activities of the institute," Foster stated in the release.

Associate Dean Brian Brooks said the institute is important.

"He's focusing on finishing construction and getting that operation up and running," Brooks said.

Foster and Brooks said the journalism institute is going to be an integral part of the school.

"It's so critical to the future of the school," Brooks said.

The journalism institute will be a center for journalism research across all specialties of journalism, Foster said.

"The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute engages media professionals, scholars and other citizens in programs aimed at improving the practice and understanding of journalism in democratic societies," the School of Journalism's Web site states.

The institute will eventually be housed in the rebuilt Sociology Building. The building was delayed by problems with mortar deterioration in February, and the completion date is now set for April 2008.

Mills has been dean of the journalism school for 18 years. He plans to return to full-time duty as dean in June 2008.

"He's a great dean for a great school," Foster said.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation donated the funding for the project in 2004.

Reynolds graduated from the MU School of Journalism in 1927, and his foundation also donated money for the Reynolds Alumni Center.