Bradley University and the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul F. Gullifor as the new Chairperson of the Department of Communication.

The process for choosing the new chairperson for the largest department at Bradley began last fall when a national search was announced to replace Dr. Ali Zohoori who served as chairperson for seven years. Zohoori stepped down as chair to focus on research and publication of a new book on mass communication issues in Iran. Dr. Ron Koperski, senior member of the Communication faculty and of the Public Relations Concentration, chaired the search committee. Koperski’s committee received nominations and applications from throughout the country and from abroad, narrowing the candidates to three finalists who interviewed on campus in April. Gullifor’s appointment has been greeted enthusiastically across all campus constituencies from faculty, staff, and students to administration and alumni.

“I am honored,” said Gullifor, “to lead the largest department on campus. I’m looking forward to the opportunities and challenges of this position, and I’m eager to work with wonderful colleagues and students in the pursuit of excellence in everything we do.”

Read the full article about this exciting new role for one of our best and brightest.

Paul F. Gullifor was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. After graduating from St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend in 1978, he earned a B.A. in Broadcasting (1981) and an M.S. in Broadcast Management and Programming (1982) from Indiana State University. He earned a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Missouri in 1988. He joined the faculty at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in the fall of 1988. Having recently completed his 19th academic year at Bradley, Gullifor is currently a tenured professor in the Department of Communication and also teaches a variety of courses in electronic media. During the past year, he served as Interim Chairperson of the Department. His research interests are in broadcast history and programming, particularly sports programming, and he has published in these areas. His first book The Fighting Irish on the Air: The History of Notre Dame Football Broadcasting, published by Diamond Communications was released in September 2001. His second book, Courting Success, with Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Coach Muffet McGraw, was released in November 2003. He has a chapter in the 2006 book Sports-Talk Radio in America: Its Context and Culture, and he is a regular contributor to the Encyclopedia of Radio.

Gullifor is recognized nationally and on campus as one of the very best professors in his field. In 2001, he was named the Stephen H. Coltrin Communication Professor of the Year by the International Radio and Television Society. Among the many Bradley awards and recognitions he has won are the Paul B. Snider Award for Teaching Excellence in Communication, the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching, Professor of the Semester by Bradley University Inter-Fraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and Order of Omega, Annenberg Public Policy Center Fellowship, industry seminar appointments from the National Association of Television Program Executives, International Radio and Television Society, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; and the Award of Excellence for Exemplary Service and Attention to Students in 2000 and 2007 from the Parents Association at Bradley University.