WASHINGTON, D.C. Howard University today announced the appointment of Kimberly R. Moffitt, Ph.D., as dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications. Dr. Moffitt will join Howard University on August 1, 2025. 

One of the largest academic units at Howard, the Hughes School of Communications offers bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees in fields such as public relations, advertising, audio production, journalism, media management, film and television, and legal communication. It also houses groundbreaking programs including the Annenberg Honors Program, an experiential scholarly leadership experience, and the Center for Journalism and Democracy, an intercollegiate driver of journalistic freedom in support of the global democratic process. 

Dr. Moffitt, a Howard alumna, currently serves as dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She is also president of the National Association for Media Literacy Education.

“Dr. Kimberly Moffitt's extensive experience as an academic leader and scholar makes her exceptionally qualified to lead the Cathy Hughes School of Communications,” stated Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., president of Howard University. “Her in-depth knowledge in the media and communications field underscores her capability to educate and nurture future communications and journalism professionals through programs that equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for successful careers and demonstrates her readiness to lead research that influences the industry.”

At UMBC, Dr. Moffitt oversees 25 academic departments and programs, seven research centers, three undergraduate scholars programs, and a cadre of nearly 300 faculty and staff. She has also been instrumental in developing partnerships with community-based organizations, raising over $8 million for student initiatives, and instituting administrative structures which helped increase faculty grantsmanship by 20 percent. 

“It is the honor of a lifetime to 'return home' to my beloved alma mater and serve in cultivating the next generation of media thinkers, creators, and practitioners.” said Dr. Moffitt. “I remember developing my love of media criticism and culture here at Howard and then sharing that knowledge in my small academic world. Now, as the media landscape drastically changes, it becomes ever so important to center the lived experiences of Africana communities and ensure that our stories are told and our ideas are shared more broadly in the media. I believe this to be the core charge of the Cathy Hughes School of Communication, and I look forward to achieving that goal and even greater eminence under my leadership.”

A leader in scholarship, Dr. Moffitt is co-editor of Critical Studies in Media Communication. She has also authored or co-edited five books, including “Blackberries and Redbones: Critical Articulations of Black Hair and Body Politics in Africana Communities” and “Michelle Obama and the FLOTUS Effect: Platform, Presence and Agency.”  Her work has been published in respected journals, including the “Howard Journal of Communication,” “Critical Studies in Media Communication,” and “the Women, Gender, and Families of Color Journal.” In addition, she has a significant research portfolio supported by philanthropic entities including the Andrew Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Dr. Moffitt earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), a Master of Arts in communication from Boston University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in mass communication and media studies from Howard University. Recognized by “The Daily Record” as one of the “Top 100 Maryland Women” in 2025, she is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Zenobia Lawrence Hikes Career Award for Administrators (Virginia Tech Faculty Women of Color in the Academy National Conference), the Outstanding Faculty Award from the UMBC Alumni Association, the Scholar-Activist Award from the National Communication Association's Critical and Cultural Studies Division, and the Activism and Advocacy Excellence in Leadership Award from the UNCC Black Alumni Association. 

Dr. Moffitt will succeed Chukwuka "Chuka" Onwumechili, Ph.D., who has served as the interim dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications for the past year, and Dean Emeritus Gracie Lawson-Borders, Ph.D., who served as dean for over a decade. 

About Howard University  
Howard University, established in 1867, is a leading private research university based in Washington, D.C. Howard’s 14 schools and colleges offer 140 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs and lead the nation in awarding doctoral degrees to African American students. Howard is the top-ranked historically Black college or university (HBCU) according to Forbes and is the only HBCU ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 National Universities. Renowned for its esteemed faculty, high achieving students, and commitment to excellence, leadership, truth and service, Howard produces distinguished alumni across all sectors, including the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice and the first woman U.S. vice president; Schwarzman, Marshall, Rhodes and Truman Scholars; prestigious fellows; and over 165 Fulbright recipients. Learn more at www.howard.edu.