Melissa Ianetta Appointed Interim Chair of the School of Literature, Media and Communication
Posted July 27, 2021
Melissa Ianetta, Class of '58 Professor of Communication and director of the Writing and Communication Program (WCP), has been appointed interim chair of the School of Literature, Media and Communication, effective August 9.
Ianetta joined Georgia Tech in 2020. She has a track record of exceptional administrative experience at the University of Delaware over 15 years, including serving as director of writing and director of the University Writing Centers. Prior to her tenure at the University of Delaware, she also served as director of the Writing Centers at Oklahoma State University. In recognition of her service to the university and her scholarly impact in the profession, she was awarded the Unidel Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. Chair in Writing and Rhetoric.
“Although Melissa has been with us for a short period of time, her contributions across our College, the Institute and the University System of Georgia have been invaluable,” said Kaye Husbands Fealing, dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
Ianetta served as co-leader of Ivan Allen College Strategic Plan Study Committee, and currently serves on the statewide Regents Advisory Committee for English. On behalf of her colleagues in the Writing and Communication Program, she accepted a 2021 Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award for a Department or Program from the University System of Georgia. During that same period, the Writing and Communication Program was also recognized with the 2020 Diversity Champion Award. This year, she has received a distinguished alumni award from her alma mater, Bridgewater State University, and the Maxwell Award from the National Conference of Peer Tutors in Writing for her leadership and research contributions in that field.
“I am confident that her exceptional administrative experience and managerial skills will be an asset to advance and prepare the School of Literature, Media and Communication for its next chair and future course,” Husbands Fealing said. “As interim chair, she will lead efforts to revise faculty governance, connect the multiple disciplines in the school, and develop a strategic action plan in response to the school’s recent academic program review.”
Additionally, Ianetta will be appointed as executive director of Writing and Communication, effective August 1, as a result of the school’s recent reorganization. In this new school leadership role, she will be responsible for consolidating writing and communication initiatives across the Institute, providing a shared vision for the Naugle Communication Center (CommLab) and the WCP, and supervising the directors and activities of both units. The executive director of Writing and Communication is expected to champion teaching and learning in all areas of writing and communication education for Georgia Tech students, and professional development for CommLab staff and tutors and WCP postdoctoral and lecturer faculty.
An interim associate chair for the School of Literature, Media and Communication and director for the Writing and Communication program will be announced in the next few days. Karen Head will continue to serve as acting chair until July 31. Richard Utz will serve as chair in addition to his new role as associate dean for faculty development from August 1 – 8. An international search for a new school chair will be launched in academic year 2021-2022.
