Philip Merrill College of Journalism Dean Thomas Kunkel has been named the seventh president of St. Norbert College, a highly respected liberal arts school located in De Pere, Wisc., the school announced today. He succeeds William J. Hynes, who led St. Norbert for eight years. The appointment is effective on July 1.
“Tom Kunkel’s leadership has had a profound impact on the College of Journalism. The accomplishment and momentum that he leaves behind will continue for years to come,” said University President C. D. Mote, Jr. “While we are sorry to see Tom go, it is satisfying to see him use his talent and energy at another level at St. Norbert College. We wish Tom all the best when he takes over the reins this fall.”
Kunkel was named dean of the Merrill College in 2000. Since then he has lead the school in curricular changes, launched a $45 million capital campaign and spearheaded a project to build a $30 million new home for the College, Knight Hall, which will break ground in May.
“St. Norbert College is widely regarded as one of the top liberal arts institutions in America, and I am thrilled and humbled by this opportunity,” said Kunkel. “At the same time, I am melancholy about leaving the best job I’ve ever had, a great journalism school at a great university. I will never be able to repay Maryland for what it has given me and my family.”
Under Kunkel’s leadership, Merrill continued its rise in national prominence started by his predecessor, and is now internationally recognized as one of the best journalism schools in the United States.
In 2001, after a $10 million gift from Annapolis Capital publisher Philip Merrill, the school began an era of rapid program expansion: it has nearly tripled the amount of scholarship aid given to students, began a program of significant reinvestment in modern, professional-caliber equipment, and hired some of the nation’s best academics and professionals. He brought the tally of Pulitzer Prize winners on staff to seven – the most of any journalism school in the country.
Merrill was selected as one of eight prestigious schools in the nation to participate in the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Journalism Initiative to transform journalism education. The college now operates training and exchange programs on three continents and is home to nine professional programs and centers including American Journalism Review and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Kunkel has also become a leader in the field of journalism education, serving as the president of the Association of Schools in Journalism and Mass Communication and chair of the national accrediting committee of journalism and communication schools. He was named the Top Journalism Administrator by the Scripps Howard Foundation last year.
A respected journalist and author, Kunkel has written five books including the critically acclaimed “Genius in Disguise: Harold Ross of The New Yorker.”
Provost Nariman Farvardin said the succession plan for Kunkel will be announced in the coming days.
St. Norbert College is a Catholic liberal arts college founded by the Norbertine Order in 1898. In 2008, U.S. News and World Report named the school one of “Best Liberal Arts” schools in its annual “America’s Best Colleges” issue.
