Susan Huxman

Susan Schultz Huxman, director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University, has been named president of Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

She will become president of the Mennonite Church-related college July 1, after 20 years of teaching and administrative responsibility at Wichita State, including seven as director of the Elliott School.

William Bischoff, WSU dean of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said he would appoint an interim director of the Elliott School while the search is conducted for a permanent director.

"We recognize the value of the Elliott School's teaching and scholarship. Its graduates are sought after by communication companies in Kansas and beyond," Bischoff said. "We expect to have a new permanent director named in 2012."

'Top-notch scholar'

During her tenure as director of the Elliott School of Communication, the school has increased enrollment and leveraged its distinctiveness and location in the largest media market in the state to recruit and retain an excellent faculty.

Under Huxman, the school secured $4.6 million in gifts and grants for an endowed chair, faculty fellowships, student scholarships and enhanced facilities and community outreach initiatives, including the Communication Upward Bound program and the Sunshine Coalition for Open Government.

"It has been wonderfully satisfying to lead the first integrated school of communication in Kansas," Huxman said. "I will miss Elliott School colleagues, but I will leave in June knowing the school is well-positioned to continue to prepare students for the future of communication."

Les Anderson

Professor Les Anderson, Huxman's longtime colleague, said: "Susan is a top-notch scholar, teacher and administrator. She has successfully guided the Elliott School through a difficult time of change in the communication industry."

Provost Gary L. Miller said: "The position at Conrad Grebel is an exceptional opportunity for Susan and a natural step for someone of her most impressive leadership abilities. She will make a great college president."

Conrad Grebel is associated with the University of Waterloo and provides classes in music and the humanities for all the university's students. In addition, Grebel is expanding with a graduate program in theological studies and a master's program in peace and conflict studies.