Geoffrey Cowan, dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, has been named the inaugural holder of the newly-established Annenberg Family Chair in Communication Leadership. The endowed chair is made possible by a major gift to USC from the Annenberg Foundation in honor of Dean Cowan, who has announced his plans to retire as dean of the USC Annenberg School at the conclusion of his second term in June 2007. The grant to establish the Annenberg Family Chair at the USC Annenberg School is part of a $6 million gift made at the direction of foundation trustees Leonore Annenberg, Wallis Annenberg, Lauren Bon, Charles Annenberg Weingarten and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten. "Over the years the Annenberg Foundation and its trustees have been steadfast partners of the University of Southern California, not only keenly attuned to the needs of our students and faculty, but visionary about the ways scholarly investigation can address challenges facing our society," said USC President Steven B. Sample. "The Foundation’s gift is a timely catalyst that will further invigorate USC’s unparalleled strengths in communication and that will duly honor the exceptional talents of Dean Geoffrey Cowan."
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