Ed Carter, an associate professor in the Department of Communications, was recently appointed associate dean of the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications by Stephen Jones, dean of the college.
Carter, who teaches both news reporting and media law, will now be responsible for advisement, assessment, the college student association, curriculum, international programs and student funding.
“I am honored by the trust and confidence of Dean Stephen Jones and my colleagues,” Carter said in an email. “I look forward to learning and serving.”
Carter’s career at BYU began in 2004 after completing a law clerkship for Judge Ruggero J. Aldisert in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. During his time with the university, Carter has supervised the award-winning student lab newspaper, The Universe, and has also served as associate chair for undergraduate studies in the Department of Communications.
“We have a great college with faculty, staff and students dedicated to excellence and fulfilling the mission of BYU,” Carter said. “I will work hard to justify the trust placed in me.”
Dale Cressman, associate department chair of the Department of Communications, said that the department will miss working with Carter on a full-time basis.
“He’s brilliant,” Cressman said. “He’s a very thoughtful and steady administrator. The things that he’s done academically are just amazing.”
With a Master of Laws from the University of Edinburgh School of Law and Juris Doctorate from the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Carter brings to the position many years of academic experience. Carter has served as head of the Media Law Division for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, the largest academic communications association in the nation. His articles have appeared in Communication Law and Policy, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Newspaper Research Journal, Rutgers Law Journal, and BYU Studies.
Faculty and staff of the college learned of the announcement in a letter from the dean received Wednesday morning. Carter will assume the position from Gary Barton who has served as associate dean for three years. The dean praised Barton for advancing college programs in “impressive ways.”
“Professor Barton has made significant contributions to the college,” Jones said. “I have greatly appreciated his dedication and commitment.”
Barton will now return to the Department of Visual Arts where he will continue his role as a teacher. The changes will take effect on July 1.
The College of Fine Arts and Communications is the third largest college at BYU with 3,965 students enrolled during the Fall 2012 semester. It comprises the Department of Communications, the Department of Dance, the School of Music, the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, and the Department of Visual Arts.