After a national search, Bey-Ling Sha will join Cal State Fullerton as the next dean of the College of Communications. The appointment, announced this month, is effective July 1.
“The pool for this search was extremely deep, reflecting the strength and reputation of our College of Communications,” says search committee chair David Forgues, vice president for human resources, diversity and inclusion. “We had three outstanding finalists, and Dr. Sha’s impressive scholarship and contributions to the field were key items that set her apart. She also has a record of effective leadership on both a school and a college level that will serve her well in this position and continue to elevate our work.”
Sha comes to CSUF from San Diego State University, where she is currently the acting associate dean of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, and previously served as the director of the School of Journalism and Media Studies from 2013 to 2018.
As a public relations researcher, teacher and practitioner active in professional and community organizations, Sha was recently honored with the 2018-19 Distinguished Faculty Award from the San Diego State University Alumni Association. In 2012, she was named Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America.
Sha’s research focuses on the intersection of identity and public relations, which has earned her the Institute for Public Relations’ 2018 Pathfinder Award, a lifetime achievement award recognizing an original program of scholarly research. She is serving as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Public Relations Research for the 2016 to 2021 term, and is co-author of two scholarly books.
Sha holds a doctorate in mass communication from the University of Maryland at College Park.