Ted Spiker Named UFCJC Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs

Ted Spiker, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Journalism Department chair, has been named the new associate dean for undergraduate affairs, effective Jan. 1, succeeding James Babanikos, who is stepping down from the position at the end of the year.

After 10 years in the magazine industry, Spiker joined the Journalism Department in 2001 and became interim chair in 2014 and chair in 2015. His accomplishments during his time as chair include:

• Conducting four major department curriculum revisions, including the development of the Sports and Media major.
• Offering more than 50 new courses, both permanent and experimental.
• Support of faculty-launched award-winning programs and leading initiatives for unique reporting experiences for students.
• Leading UFCJC to second overall in the Hearst Journalism Awards for the last four years after four straight years as fourth overall.
• Increasing undergraduate enrollment by 50%.

In addition, before he became chair, he led an interdepartmental faculty task force that redesigned the undergraduate curriculum to put a greater emphasis on a more consolidated approach with core courses.

As associate dean, Spiker will serve as UFCJC’s liaison with UF central administration for all matters related to undergraduate education. He will lead the PATH Office, including supervising all academic advisers. He will also chair the College Curriculum and Teaching and the Undergraduate Affairs Committees and is the administrative liaison for the University Curriculum Committee, General Education Committee, the UF Ombuds, and all other UF committees related to undergraduate affairs. He will lead curriculum changes and updates and changes to Undergraduate Catalog.

He will also coordinate management of undergraduate enrollment and supervise all enrollment management functions in the College, including providing detailed enrollment data and tracking of undergraduate records. He will also oversee undergraduate and transfer student recruitment and admissions.

Spiker has taught nearly 20 different courses in the College and was named UF Teacher of the Year for the 2016-17 school year and the AEJMC Magazine Educator of the Year in 2018. He has served as head of the AEJMC Magazine Division twice, and he is the co-author of nearly 30 books and hundreds of magazine-style pieces, including work in The Washington Post, WebMD, Esquire, Men’s Health and more.

Posted: December 6, 2024
Category: College News
Tagged as: James Babanikos, Journalism, PATH, Ted Spiker