Rowan University Names George ThottamNew Dean of College of Communication
Rowan University Names George ThottamNew Dean of College of Communication
June 20, 2001
Rowan University?s Board of Trustees approved the appointment of George Thottam as the dean of the College of Communication at its Wednesday, June 20 meeting. Thottam comes to Rowan from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, where he is s a professor and chair of the department of mass communication. He will assume the position at Rowan in July.
In addition to his current position, Thottam served as the director of graduate programs in journalism and mass communications from 1992 to 1998 and chair of the communications arts program from 1984 to 1992 at Iona. A professor since 1981, Thottam was recognized for his teaching in 2000 when he received the national Freedom Forum?s Journalism Teacher of the Year award.
<+>Dr. Thottam is an accomplished author, a respected educator and a leader in the field of communication,<+> said Dr. Donald Farish, president of Rowan University. <+>We are fortunate to have been able to attract someone with his credentials and unique international perspective.<+>
Prior to teaching, Thottam served as a foreign correspondent to the A.B. Patrika group of newspapers in Calcutta for 12 years. He also worked as a general correspondent in the late 1970s for <+>The Deepika,<+> the leading daily newspaper in Bombay.
He earned his doctorate degree in mass communication education from the University of Bombay. He also received three masters degrees, two from the University of Pune in political science and sociology and one in journalism from Columbia University. He received a bachelor?s degree from Karnatak University where he majored in political science and minored in economics and sociology.
<+>I chose Rowan University over the other three institutions where I was a finalist because I felt that Rowan wanted me more and that I could do more for the University at the most exciting period of its growth,<+> said Thottam. <+>I was also impressed by the family atmosphere and community spirit of the University, which is similar to the environment at Iona College. However, the clincher was President Farish?s vision, leadership style and openness.<+>
An accomplished author, Thottam has published two books, including <+>The Media<+> which was the first book on mass media in Indian languages. He also has written dozens of papers on topics such as online communications, Asian mass media and the economic impact of media on sports.
Thottam has presented at many conferences throughout the nation and received research grants from several organizations. He is a member of the Accredited Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, International Association for Media and Communication Research and Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication among others.
In addition to his current position, Thottam served as the director of graduate programs in journalism and mass communications from 1992 to 1998 and chair of the communications arts program from 1984 to 1992 at Iona. A professor since 1981, Thottam was recognized for his teaching in 2000 when he received the national Freedom Forum?s Journalism Teacher of the Year award.
<+>Dr. Thottam is an accomplished author, a respected educator and a leader in the field of communication,<+> said Dr. Donald Farish, president of Rowan University. <+>We are fortunate to have been able to attract someone with his credentials and unique international perspective.<+>
Prior to teaching, Thottam served as a foreign correspondent to the A.B. Patrika group of newspapers in Calcutta for 12 years. He also worked as a general correspondent in the late 1970s for <+>The Deepika,<+> the leading daily newspaper in Bombay.
He earned his doctorate degree in mass communication education from the University of Bombay. He also received three masters degrees, two from the University of Pune in political science and sociology and one in journalism from Columbia University. He received a bachelor?s degree from Karnatak University where he majored in political science and minored in economics and sociology.
<+>I chose Rowan University over the other three institutions where I was a finalist because I felt that Rowan wanted me more and that I could do more for the University at the most exciting period of its growth,<+> said Thottam. <+>I was also impressed by the family atmosphere and community spirit of the University, which is similar to the environment at Iona College. However, the clincher was President Farish?s vision, leadership style and openness.<+>
An accomplished author, Thottam has published two books, including <+>The Media<+> which was the first book on mass media in Indian languages. He also has written dozens of papers on topics such as online communications, Asian mass media and the economic impact of media on sports.
Thottam has presented at many conferences throughout the nation and received research grants from several organizations. He is a member of the Accredited Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, International Association for Media and Communication Research and Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication among others.