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With Dr. Shirley Staples Carter at its helm, the University of South Carolina's School of Journalism and Mass Communication is shaping the profession of journalism.

Carter, originally from Alabama, joined the university's faculty in 2003, attracted by its top-tier journalism program and the opportunities available to her.

"USC is the flagship university with a strong academic reputation and high research activity and is the type of institution with many opportunities for growth and collaboration," Carter says.

In April, Scripps Howard Foundation named Carter Journalism Administrator of the Year. She was recognized for her leadership, training of leaders from under-represented backgrounds, founding of mass-communications departments at Norfolk State University and the University of North Florida and her accomplishments at the University of South Carolina.

At the university, Carter has helped strengthen the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in a number of ways.

A visual communication major has been added, and the number of full-time faculty has increased to improve the student-to-faculty ratio. The school has worked closely with the School of Library and Information Science to advance the College of Mass Communication and Information Studies through initiatives that include the launch of an alumni society and IComm, an annual week of programs for students and the community. The school also has entered into partnerships with other disciplines, such as public health, to develop communication initiatives, and has made significant inroads in attracting under-represented students to the journalism field.

Carter earned a bachelor's degree in English education from Tuskegee University, a master's degree in journalism from Ohio State University and a doctoral degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Website: www.jour.sc.edu/people/adfacstaff/carter.html