Angela Powers took over as director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University on July 1.

Before this, she ran the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kansas State University from 2004 to 2012 before returning to teaching. She made a name for herself forging partnerships across various media, improving students’ international opportunities and increasing diversity. She won the 2015 national Barry Sherman Teaching Award in Media Management and Economics, which recognizes excellence and innovation in the teaching of media management, economics or entrepreneurship.

Powers has researched the rapid changes in media, along with family-owned news outlets, the role of information technology in organizational change and other topics. She’s traveled as a scholar and consultant to Egypt, Sweden, Jamaica and  Lithuania and has been a leader in the  Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.  

She worked as a television journalist for NBC and CBS affiliates in Illinois.

The Business Record recently asked Powers several questions about her new role, her priorities, and why she chose her new position. 

What attracted you to this position?
It just felt like a position that was made for me. I had had eight years of experience at Kansas State University at the (A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications). When I visited (Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication), I was really impressed by the dedication of the faculty to the students, not only our faculty, but the other faculty and the administration at Iowa State. 

It was attractive to me because it is what I love doing in terms of being journalism- and media-oriented. We’re a strong, accredited program with incredible students who are getting jobs in the field. We have a world-class faculty. We have a placement rate of 95 percent, partly because we have one of the strongest internships in the country, including a partnership with Meredith (Corp.). We are growing. It’s a very special environment. There was just no question (she would take the job). 

Did you hesitate at all to run a department that teaches journalism in an era of so much change?
Never. Not once. I am both a professional and a researcher. My area of research expertise has been related to the changing media environment. One thing that I know is that media has been around forever. And that it has evolved and survived and adapted. I see what we are in now as an opportunity. Our students are learning skills that are necessary for democracies. We’re almost in a new Watergate era, with a need to work out how we analyze the information and get the information out to citizens who need to know. 

Our students go into many areas that aren’t traditionally related to newspapers and television, but I think we have one of the best majors on campus. 

What makes you tick?
I am an opportunist. I am looking at what the opportunities are for us to become a stronger, dynamic program that helps the lives of our students and helps them to be successful. If we have successful faculty then our students are going to be successful. 

I believe in working together to develop a plan. I am a collaborator. It’s fun here because I have such a good group of faculty members who really put students first, more than in any environment where I’ve worked so far. That is so impressive. 

Read the full story on Powers here (Insider content).