Sheila Coronel named dean of journalism school in New York

Sheila Coronel. www.journalism.columbia.edu photo

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino journalist and author Sheila Coronel will soon assume the role as Dean of Academic Affairs at Columbia School of Journalism in New York.

Columbia School of Journalism’s Dean Steve Coll announced in a statement on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila Time) that Coronel would succeed fellow professor Bill Grueskin on July 1. Grueskin has been in the position since 2008.

Known for her investigative work, Coronel joined the school in 2006 as the Toni Stabile Professor of Professional Practice in Investigative Journalism and the Director of the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism.

The Ramon Magsaysay 2003 awardee also received a Presidential Teaching Award, which honors Columbia University’s best teachers.

“Sheila is a superb journalist, teacher and leader,” said Coll.

“Her deep commitment to investigative reporting, data science and global journalism make her ideally positioned to advance the school’s most important priorities. She has earned the great respect of her faculty colleagues and has done much to improve the school since she arrived here. She has also established herself as a media leader through her service to groups working to advance investigative journalism worldwide and to protect reporters under pressure. I look forward to learning from her and supporting her new leadership role at Columbia.”

“Sheila will inherit an office that has been superbly led for six years by Bill Grueskin, who has creatively and inclusively led the faculty through important innovation in the school’s curriculum. Bill is a deeply intelligent journalist and industry expert. He has been an attentive manager while managing to maintain a wry sense of humor. We will miss his leadership in academic affairs, but trust he will continue to help us think ahead as a member of the faculty,” he added.

“I am honored and delighted to have this opportunity to serve as academic dean of a great institution,” said Coronel. “We are at a period of uncertainty, as well as tremendous possibility, for both journalism and journalism education. It’s an exciting time to be at a top-tier journalism school.”

A Political Science alumna of the University of the Philippines, Coronel is the director of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. She wrote for Philippine newspapers, The New York Times and the Guardian.

Coronel is the author and editor of more than a dozen books, including “Coups, Cults & Cannibals,” a collection of reportage; “The Rulemakers: How the wealthy and well-born dominate Congress”; and “Pork and other Perks: Corruption and Governance in the Philippines.”

She also finished a master’s degree in political sociology from the London School of Economics in 1991. Coronel will continue to teach and
serve as Director of the Stabile Center.