SU ▁Board ▁of ▁Reg ents ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 . ▁In to ▁the ▁twenty - first ▁century , ▁the ▁School ▁began ▁offering ▁a ▁Ph . D . ▁in ▁Communic ation ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁and ▁separated ▁from ▁the ▁College ▁of ▁Liberal ▁Arts ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁becoming ▁an ▁independent ▁College ▁of ▁Communic ation . ▁Dr . ▁Lawrence ▁P int ak , ▁a ▁veter an ▁of ▁more ▁than ▁ 3 0 ▁years ▁in ▁journal ism ▁and ▁a ▁prominent ▁expert ▁on ▁America ' s ▁relationship ▁with ▁the ▁Muslim ▁world , ▁was ▁h ired ▁as ▁the ▁Found ing ▁Dean ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁College . ▁ ▁College ▁leaders ▁ ▁Ch airs ▁of ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁Communic ation ▁ ▁Robert ▁A . ▁M ott , ▁ 1 9 6 5 – 1 9 6 8 ▁ ▁Hugh ▁A . ▁Rund ell , ▁ 1 9 6 8 – 1 9 7 0 ▁ ▁Donald ▁E . ▁Well s , ▁ 1 9 7 0 – 1 9 7 7 ▁ ▁Thomas ▁He ut erman , ▁ 1 9 7 7 – 1 9 8 3 ▁ ▁James ▁Van ▁Le u ven ▁& ▁Robert ▁I vie ▁( Inter im ), ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁ ▁Thomas ▁He ut erm in , ▁ 1 9 8 3 – 1 9 8 6 ▁ ▁Alex is ▁S . ▁Tan , ▁ 1 9 8 6 – 1 9 9 0 ▁ ▁Direct ors ▁of ▁the ▁Edward ▁R . ▁Mur row ▁School ▁of ▁Communic