Kelly Bruhn, associate dean and professor of journalism and mass communication, will be the next dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, beginning on July 1, 2026. Provost Sue Mattison announced the decision, which was made unanimously by the Drake Board of Trustees, in a campus-wide email on Oct. 21.

Bruhn will succeed current Dean Catherine Staub, who will retire on June 30, 2026.

“Dr. Bruhn has a deep knowledge of the SJMC, a passion for student success that is infectious, and the leadership skills necessary to continue the school’s positive momentum and distinguished reputation as a nationally ranked and highly regarded program,” said Mattison in her email. 

Bruhn expressed gratitude for the support she has received from the SJMC community following the announcement. 

“It has been such a wonderful outpouring of support and love from our SJMC family,” Bruhn said. “It’s a powerful reminder of the special culture we have here, and I’m honored to lead this group.”

Bruhn has served the SJMC as associate dean for more than 10 years, with a stint in 2023-2024 in which she served as the interim dean. During this time, she led the school through a re-accreditation program with the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, where Drake met all eight standards. 

Throughout her career at Drake, Bruhn has worked to build the next generation of ethical communicators. She has taught the senior public relations capstone course for nearly two decades, collaborating with community partners to create real-world learning experiences for students.

Bruhn has also developed recruitment programs, including high school summer camps and customized workshops for scholastic journalism advisors, and led the creation of two new majors: strategic political communication, launched in fall 2015, and sports media and communication, launched in fall 2025. 

She spearheaded Drake’s first fully online master’s program, a Master of Arts in Communication program, and served as the University’s inaugural administrative fellow for graduate programs, supporting graduate student enrollment and retention across campus.

Mattison emphasized that Bruhn’s leadership extends beyond administrative success, noting the connections Bruhn has made as a professor, mentor, and colleague. Bruhn earned her bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University, her master’s degree from Ball State University, and her doctorate from Michigan State University as a first-generation college student.

“Whether you are [first-generation] or not, coming into a new environment, and to have someone who immediately sees potential and tells you how the school is going to support you to reach your goals. That’s transformative,” Mattison said.

Looking ahead, Bruhn hopes to build on the school’s foundation of excellence while continuing to pursue innovation. 

“We have a hundred years of excellence here in the SJMC, and I want to continue to celebrate that while also pushing forward,” Bruhn said. “We’re small but mighty, and I want every student across America to know they should study journalism and mass communication at Drake University.”

As she prepares to assume her new role, Bruhn will become the ninth dean in the school’s history. For her, the appointment carries personal meaning.

“I was on probation my first semester of college, and now here I am leading a really outstanding team and program,” Bruhn said. “I feel the weight of that, but I am also so glad to celebrate what that means, because everything is possible, and especially here at Drake.”