Coronel named academic dean at Columbia Journalism School

NEW YORK — Dean Steve Coll announced Monday, Jan. 21 that Sheila Coronel will become dean of academic affairs at Columbia Journalism School, succeeding Bill Grueskin, who has served in the position since 2008. Coronel will assume the role on July 1, 2014.

“Sheila is a superb journalist, teacher and leader,” said Coll. “Her deep commitment to investigative reporting, data science and global journalism make her ideally positioned to advance the school’s most important priorities. She has earned the great respect of her faculty colleagues and has done much to improve the school since she arrived here. She has also established herself as a media leader through her service to groups working to advance investigative journalism worldwide and to protect reporters under pressure. I look forward to learning from her and supporting her new leadership role at Columbia.”

Coll continued, “Sheila will inherit an office that has been superbly led for six years by Bill Grueskin, who has creatively and inclusively led the faculty through important innovation in the school’s curriculum. Bill is a deeply intelligent journalist and industry expert. He has been an attentive manager while managing to maintain a wry sense of humor. We will miss his leadership in academic affairs, but trust he will continue to help us think ahead as a member of the faculty.”

Coronel, who joined the school in 2006 as the Toni Stabile Professor of Professional Practice in Investigative Journalism and the director of the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism, is known globally for her investigative work. She was co-founder and for many years, the director of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, a pioneering nonprofit. As a journalist in her native Philippines, she reported on the turbulent democratic transition that followed the fall of Ferdinand Marcos, writing for both Philippine newspapers as well as The New York Times and the Guardian.

“I am honored and delighted to have this opportunity to serve as academic dean of a great institution,” said Coronel. “We are at a period of uncertainty, as well as tremendous possibility, for both journalism and journalism education. It’s an exciting time to be at a top-tier journalism school.”