“Nadine is a seasoned academic leader with a passion for fostering student success, faculty engagement and advancing the academic mission of higher education,” Liebowitz said. “Her blend of industry, academic and interdisciplinary experience and commitment to student success impressed the search committee and made her the ideal candidate to become the next dean of the School of Communications.”

In her new role, Barnett Cosby will lead undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for successful careers in areas such as film, television and media arts, journalism, public relations, advertising and integrated communications, graphic and interactive design and communications/media studies.

She also will work closely with faculty, staff and students to advance the school’s impressive industry connections, experiential opportunities, research and scholarship activities, to ensure the school is a leader in preparing students to advance the complex and ever-changing world of communications.

"As the newly appointed dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University, I am honored to lead a community of dynamic minds, where I aim to inspire innovation, amplify voices and shape the future of communication education with passion and purpose,” Barnett Cosby said. “Together, we’ll embark on a journey of exploration, collaboration, and transformative learning.”

Barnett Cosby will join the university on June 15.

The new dean is coming to Quinnipiac from Iona University, where she is the associate vice provost for academic affairs and a faculty member in the media and strategic communication department. She has taught courses in broadcasting and production, writing for television, TV aesthetics and criticism, race and gender in the media, digital activism, converged technology for public relations, and applied communications research. She also has served as the faculty adviser for ICTV, the university’s television club. Her research interests are in the areas of media, communication and culture, with a focus on digital activism and media representation of marginalized populations.

Before joining Iona in 2012, she worked as a writer, producer and director whose works are heavily rooted in the exploration of racial, cultural and gender representation, and span across various media including film, television and new media.

She has more than 20 years of industry experience, working in several capacities at notable media outlets including MSG, Fox 5, Lifetime Television Networks and Disney/ABC.

Barnett Cosby has a doctoral degree in communication from Regent University, and master’s degrees in media studies from The New School for Public Engagement, and public relations from Iona. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from CUNY, Lehman College. In addition, she has a certificate in executive leadership development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Higher Education Management Development Program.