As of July 1, both schools at USC Annenberg entered a new era of leadership, as Professor Sarah Banet-Weiser became the director of the School of Communication, while online and broadcast journalist Willow Bay assumed directorship of the School of Journalism. USC Annenberg Dean Ernest J. Wilson III announced the promotion of Banet-Weiser in September 2013. She takes over the post from Professor Larry Gross, who was director of Annenberg’s School of Communication for more than a decade.

Banet-Weiser joined the School of Communication faculty in 1999. Her book Authentic™: The Politics of Ambivalence in a Brand Culture won the 2013 Outstanding Book Award from the International Communication Association. She is currently editor of the American Quarterly, the flagship journal of the American Studies Association. Willow Bay was appointed director of Annenberg’s School of Journalism in March 2014. She succeeds Michael Parks, who has served as interim director since April 2013.

Bay is a highly skilled journalist, author, producer, digital news editor and national broadcast and global cable television news anchor. She arrives at USC Annenberg from positions as senior editor, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles; and special correspondent and host, Bloomberg TV. Bay’s career spans start-ups and legacy enterprises alike. Her selection followed a national search across the private sector and academia. “The breadth of Willow Bay’s experiences, skills and talents is extraordinary,” said Dean Wilson when announcing Bay’s appointment. “Her leadership will help our innovative school aggressively continue our path of creating—and defining—the digital future.”

—Anne Bergman (MA, Print Journalism, ’94)