Julianne Newton has been appointed interim dean of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Scott Coltrane announced recently.

Newton has been a professor of visual communication in the journalism school since fall 2000, and has served as the associate dean for Undergraduate Affairs since 2008. She begins her new duties Nov. 1.

Newton is an award-winning scholar who has worked as a reporter, editor, photographer and designer for newspapers, magazines and electronic media. She is author of “The Burden of Visual Truth: The Role of Photojournalism in Mediating Reality,” and co-author, with Rick Williams, of “Visual Communication: Integrating Media, Art and Science,” which won the 2009 Marshall McLuhan Award for Outstanding Book in Media Ecology.

In her research, Newton applies ethics and cognitive theory to the study of visual behavior. Her honors also include the National Communication Association Visual Communication Research Excellence Award (2004 and 2008), Marshall Award for Teaching Innovation and the National Press Photographers Association Garland Educator of the Year Award.

Newton was editor of “Visual Communication Quarterly” from 2001 to 2006 and serves on the editorial boards of various other publications, Coltrane said.

- by UO Office of Strategic Communications