Historically Black Virginia State University Launches New Academic Department of Mass Communications

Virginia State University, the historically black educational institution in Petersburg, received approval for its new department of mass communications from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Students have been taking courses and majoring in the discipline since 2001. A master’s program in mass communications was instituted in 2007.

The new department will be chaired by Ishmail Conway, currently associate professor in the Graduate Professional Education program. Professor Conway is a graduate of Hampton University. He holds a master’s degree in media studies and communication management from the New School for Social Research in New York and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. Before coming to Virginia State, Dr. Conway taught at Cornell University and the University of Virginia.

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