By Samantha Aloi

In August 2017, Dr. Adam Roth was named the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media.

Appointed as Assistant Professor of Communication Studies in 2007, Roth has been at the University of Rhode Island for 11 years. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013 and served more than three years as Interim Director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media prior to being named Director and Associate Dean. During his tenure as Interim Director,     Dr. Roth raised more than $2 million for capital projects, faculty research, and student scholarships. He initiated and oversaw the $6.8 million renovation of Ranger Hall, which features the Harrington Hub for Global Leadership in Communication and Media. He expanded the Harrington School’s Executive Advisory Board to include business and professional leaders in communication and media including alumni and executives from HBO, Thomson Reuters, NBCUniversal, ESPN, CBS, and more.

Roth noted that he is excited to take on these new roles and the challenges they will bring.

“I thrive on the opportunity to build something big, to prepare students for exciting and rewarding lives and careers, and to work with my colleagues to make the Harrington School the absolute best it can possibly be,” Roth said.

As the Associate Dean Roth will serve as a liaison for the six programs within the Harrington School.

His duties as Director of the Harrington School include administration of the school and its faculty and staff, and collaborating with the school’s Advisory Board, alumni, and partners. He is also responsible for creating and implementing the vision for the Harrington School to become a global leader in communication and media research and education.

“I want to propel the Harrington School forward into its next phase of development,” Roth said.

Roth lists three priorities for the Harrington School. First, he wants to develop new, innovative, and exciting programs that meet the needs of students and the demands of the marketplace. One example is developing courses in sports communication and media, a growing, popular niche market in the fields of public relations and communication. Second, Roth wants to expand the physical infrastructure for the school. Plans are well underway to renovate the TV Studio to create a state-of-the-art video production and broadcast center in Chafee Hall, which will open in September 2018. Additionally, Roth is actively raising money to double the size of the communication and media hub. Third, Adam plans to continue to support faculty both in and out of the classroom. Roth notes that Harrington faculty members are global leaders in communication research and education and he is committed to supporting their research and their commitment to teaching outstanding communication and media classes that will help students grow and become future global leaders in their respective industries.

Under Roth’s outstanding leadership, the Harrington School has become an identifiable brand with a strong reputation. The school has 1450 students, and 62 full-time faculty members in undergraduate and graduate programs. The programs include communication studies, film/media, library and information studies, journalism, public relations, and professional and public writing.