Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

Ronald E. Yates appointed dean of the College of Communications at Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Ronald E. Yates has been appointed the dean of the College of Communications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, following approval by the U. of I. Board of Trustees at its meeting June 17 in Chicago.

Yates had served as interim dean since Aug. 21 last year, succeeding Kim B. Rotzoll, who had held the position since 1992. Over the past academic year, Yates led the college through an in-depth process of self-examination and restructuring.

Yates had been head of the department of journalism since fall 1997. During that time, the department recruited a number of prominent new faculty members, significantly raising it national reputation. On April 4, Yates was succeeded in that position by journalism professor Walt Harrington, whom Yates appointed as interim head.

Before joining the U. of I. faculty in 1997, Yates was an award-winning foreign and national correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. During his 27-year career with the paper, his work as a correspondent in Asia resulted in three Edward Scott Beck awards for international reporting. He also was nominated by the paper on several occasions for the Pulitzer Prize and won several other awards, including the Peter Lisagor Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Inter-American Press Association Award for coverage of Latin America.

Yates also is the author of five books, four of them non-fiction and one novel, all originating from his experience as a foreign correspondent in the Far East.

Read Next

Life sciences Portrait of the research team posing together.

Minecraft players can now explore whole cells and their contents

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists have translated nanoscale experimental and computational data into precise 3D representations of bacteria, yeast and human epithelial, breast and breast cancer cells in Minecraft, a video game that allows players to explore, build and manipulate structures in three dimensions. The innovation will allow researchers and students of all ages to navigate […]

Arts Photo of seven dancers onstage wearing blue tops and orange or yellow flowing skirts. The backdrop is a Persian design.

February Dance includes works experimenting with live music, technology and a ‘sneaker ballet’

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The dance department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will present February Dance 2025: Fast Forward this week at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. February Dance will be one of the first performances in the newly renovated Colwell Playhouse Theatre since its reopening. The performances are Jan. 30-Feb. 1. Dance professor […]

Honors portraits of four Illinois researchers

Four Illinois researchers receive Presidential Early Career Award

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Four researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were named recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. The winners this year are health and kinesiology professor Marni Boppart, physics professor Barry Bradlyn, chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Ying […]

Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

507 E. Green St
MC-426
Champaign, IL 61820

Email: stratcom@illinois.edu

Phone (217) 333-5010