Heidi Hennink-Kaminski is the new dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University.

 

She details her background and research interests and talks about curriculum and research strengths of the college. She tells why she wants to lead the country’s first college of communication and shares some of her short- and long-term goals for the college. The dean describes challenges and opportunities along the way in pursuing those goals, and she analyzes the job market the college’s graduates are entering.

 

Conversation Highlights:

 

(0:27) – What is your background, and what are your research interests?

 

(4:01) – What are some of the curriculum and research strengths of the college?

 

(11:16) – Why did you want to be dean of the college?

 

(13:32) – What are some of your short- and long-term goals for the college? “Climate and culture is top for me because people are at the heart of all we do.”

 

(20:16) – What are some challenges and opportunities along the way as you pursue these goals? – “Enrollment growth and retention is a challenge for us. Funding is important, too, to keep us competitive.” Technology and facilities are important, too.

 

(27:20) – What are the challenges and opportunities ahead for MSU as a whole and for all of higher education?

 

(30:25) – What’s your sense of the job market your graduates are entering?