Evan W. Cornog
Dean

(Ph.D., history, Columbia University)

Dr. Cornog served as an associate dean at the Columbia University School of Journalism for more than a decade and handled a variety of responsibilities during his tenure there.  He led fundraising efforts, coordinated the development of a new curriculum, directed the school's new Master of Arts program in Journalism and served as publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review.  Dr Cornog is also the author of several books on politics and the press - expertise he honed as press secretary to New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch and as a freelance writer and editor whose stories have appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times, Slate and the Boston Globe.  He also served as director of external relations at Bennington College in Vermont and as special assistant to the President of the New School in Manhattan.  Dr. Cornog earned his bachelor's degree in history and literature from Harvard University, and his master's and doctorate degrees in history from Columbia.

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Cliff Jernigan
Vice Dean

(Ph.D. media studies, Pennsylvania State University) | Email

Dr. Cliff Jernigan was born and raised in Harlem, New York. He received his B.A. from The City College of New York in communication, his M.A. from Duquesne University in telecommunications management and his Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in media studies. Early in his career he taught New York City intermediate school teachers working in Harlem how to use media in the classroom. His professional background includes 18 years experience in television news as a reporter, cinematographer, videographer, and special assignments producer. He was named Associated Press Photographer of the Year in 1983 (Pennsylvania region) and is a four time Pennsylvania Press Club Golden Quill winner (investigative reporting, enterprise reporting mini-documentary, sports coverage). In addition to his ten year stint covering local news for WTAE-TV (ABC affiliate) in Pittsburgh, PA, he also covered local news for WCMH-TV (NBC affiliate) in Columbus, OH and WOWK-TV (ABC affiliate) in Huntington, WV. His research interests include media education for Black and Latino teenagers, media literacy, and British cultural studies. He developed pilot media education programs for minorities in Pittsburgh, PA and State College, PA. He served as an Associate Professor at The Pennsylvania State University College of Communication where for seven years he taught video production and television programming. He also worked as an Associate Professor at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania where he developed and taught the University’s first media literacy course. At Claflin University, the oldest historically Black college in South Carolina, he taught courses in media research techniques, television and video production, and Black media in America. During his time at Claflin he served as the Chair of the Department of Mass Communication.

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Marc Oppenheim
Associate Dean for Student Affairs

(M.A., Speech Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Hofstra University) | Email

Associate Dean Marc Oppenheim was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He received his B.A. from Hofstra University in sociology and his M.A. from Hofstra University in speech communication and rhetorical studies. He joined the Hofstra administration in the summer of 2000 as a member of the Center for University Advisement. During his time there, he held the positions of Assistant Dean and Senior Assistant Dean. From 2000-2007 he also served as the advisor to the Hofstra chapter of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society receiving leadership awards for his service at their 2001 and 2006 National Conventions. In October of 2005, Dean Oppenheim joined the School of Communication where he is currently in charge of all matters pertaining to undergraduate and graduate student affairs. He is also an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Speech Communication and Rhetorical Studies teaching courses in oral communication and serves as the graduate director for Hofstra’s M.A. in Speech Communication and Rhetorical Studies. Dean Oppenheim is also a member of the Hofstra University Academic Review Committee (ARC) and Transfer Advisory Group.

Adria Marlowe
Assistant Dean

(B.S., Arts Management, Russell Sage College) | Email

Dean Marlowe oversees external relations for the School of Communication and is responsible for school-wide coordination of outreach programs, internships, community projects, public relations, scholarships, alumni affairs and fundraising efforts. She has more than fifteen years of development experience with a variety of not-for-profit organizations. She joined the Hofstra University community in 2007, most recently serving as Director for Major Gifts in the Office for Development and Alumni Affairs. In that position, she served as a liaison to the School of Communication and the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center, initiating and providing support for fundraising and alumni affairs activities. Her prior positions include Assistant Director for Development at The MacDowell Colony, an artists' residency program located in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and Development Associate for Community Relations and Special Events at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, New York.

Laurie Felix
Administrative Assistant to the Dean and Administrative Coordinator for Planning and Budget

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Laurie Felix will probably be the person who answers the phone when you call the Dean's Office. One of her primary responsibilities is to act as liaison between the Dean and students, parents, faculty, and other administrators in the School and the University. She also directs the flow of people and paper within the School of Communication and throughout the University. Her caring and capable manner is a key ingredient in the success of the School.