School of Communication director Larry Gross (pictured, above left) was elected president of the International Communication Association for the 2011-2012 term, making him the third USC Annenberg faculty member to head the ICA. Additionally, communication professor Kwan Min Lee (pictured, right) was named vice chair/future chair of the ICA's Communication and Technology Division (2 years as vice chair and 2 years as chair). Gross' and Lee's duties at USC Annenberg are not affected by the election.

Communication professors Peter Monge and Margaret McLaughlin were presidents of the ICA from 1997 to 1998 and from 1990 to 1991, respectively.

"As a member of the ICA for nearly 40 years, I am proud of its accomplishments and in particular of its serious commitment in recent years to supporting and engaging with communication scholars who pursue various paths, with scholarship that crosses many disciplines and epistemological perspectives, and with scholars and scholarship from many parts of the world," Gross said in his presidential candidate statement. "As president, I hope to take ICA to new levels in addressing these challenges, for both existing and future members of the association."

Said Lee: "I am humbled by the strong support from my colleagues in the Communication and Technology (CAT) Division. CAT is the second largest, and most rapidly growing division in ICA with more than 800 current members. It is an honor for me to be selected to lead the division in the next four years among the three strong candidates. Put together, these election results vividly show the strong national and international reputation of USC Annenberg and its faculty members."

Other communication professors involved or recently involved in leadership roles with the ICA include Janet Fulk, who is vice chair of the Organizational Communication Division; Sandra Ball-Rokeach, who is an ICA Fellow and recently served as Chair of the Mass Communication Division; and Michael Cody, who is editor of the ICA's flagship Journal of Communication. Monge and Gross are among only seven ICA members who are elected Fellows, won the Aubrey Fisher Mentorship Award and have been elected president.

"I hope to help sustain ICA's previous levels of excellence, expanding opportunities for public involvement, respecting and incorporating multiple vantage points, and moving the organization towards a fuller engagement with the emerging internationalized digital era," Gross said.

ICA is an academic association for scholars interested in the study, teaching, and application of all aspects of human and mediated communication. ICA began more than 50 years ago as a small association of U.S. researchers and is now a truly international association with more than 4,200 members in 80 countries. Since 2003, ICA has been officially associated with the United Nations as a non-governmental association (NGO).

"USC Annenberg has a long history of leadership in our field’s leading organizations such as the ICA, the National Communication Association and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication," Lee said. "ICA is undoubtedly the most important academic association in the field of communication. Professor Gross has been a dedicated leader for our field and played many important roles in shaping the direction of the field. The results of this election clearly reflect our field’s deep appreciation of his leadership and continuing support for his vision."

International Communication Association 
Gross' Presidential Candidate Statement