Orionna Brumfield and Dwayne Joseph
Staff Writers
Elayne Haynes-Anthony has come home to Jackson State University as the new director of the mass communications department. She will lead the department as it transitions into a School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
The goal of transforming the department was announced in August of 2014.
James C. Renick, provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, made the announcement at the department located at the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU on Jan. 30.
“We are most pleased to welcome Dr. Hayes-Anthony back to the university to direct a department she helped to develop. Finding a leader of her caliber is an important first step in the creation of a School of Journalism and Mass Communications,” said Renick.
Mario Azevedo, dean of the college of Liberal Arts, noted that the department is undergoing a restructuring to reflect changes in the industry.
“With her deep experience, she will add immeasurably to that effort,” said Azevedo.
Not only does Hayes-Anthony promise to lead the department in a new direction, she also promises to better serve the students.
“I will do everything in my power to expound in what we have. I plan to make this department better and make it greater,” said Hayes-Anthony.
She added: “Ninety-five percent of my students I served in the past have graduated with a guaranteed job,” said Anthony during the announcement.
Hayes-Anthony served as a professor and chair of the Department of Communications the former director of Belhaven University since 1998. Prior to that, she served at JSU for 10 years, first as director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Mass Communications and later she was appointed to head the department.
Under her leadership, the department received national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.
She stated that she was proud to be back at her first home, Jackson State, where she received her Bachelor of Science and master’s degrees.
Many mass communications students were pleased with the.
“I am at ease that the department is in the hands of someone I know personally and feel strongly that she is capable of executing the tasks at hand in the department. I had the pleasure of taking Dr. Anthony’s speech oral interpretation class administered by James Lehaman and had the pleasure of coordinating a studio night for the department,” said Campbell. “We met and I instantly knew I was in the presence of a true professional and that’s just what we need in a leader.”
Jeremy Anderson, sophomore mass communications major from Baton Rouge, La., said that he hopes to see progression for the better.
“Hopefully we have better and more exposure in the media while we are still in college, said Anderson.
The department has had several chairs and interim chairs in the past five years and many students feel they suffered because of the lack of leadership
“I feel that the department has been through a lot of changes. I say that because from my freshman to senior years, I’ve seen countless people come in and make promises and things did not happen the way that it should. Now that they’re trying to progress into the School of Mass Communications and Journalism, it is great,” said Ashton Nash, a senior from Chicago Ill. “It will benefit a lot of underclassmen and a few juniors.”
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