UPDATE: LSU Provost Richard Koubek spoke glowingly of Ceppos’ tenure as dean.
“Under Dean Ceppos’ leadership, the Manship School embraced the era of social media, technology and the changing landscape of politics and public affairs by making some sweeping changes to its curriculum and course offerings, while still expanding traditional news coverage through print, TV and radio coverage via the Manship School News Service,” Koubek said.
Koubek explained the process through which the University will find a new dean.
The Office of Academic Affairs will contact interested faculty, staff and students to serve on the Manship School Dean Search committee in the next few weeks and will officially launch the search later this fall, with an anticipated hire date by July 1, 2018. 
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Manship School of Mass Communication Dean Jerry Ceppos is stepping down from his position at the end of the 2017-18 academic school year.
He has served the position since July 2011.
Before working at the University, Ceppos was dean of the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is a member of the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and mass Communication, and has been chair of the journalism-education committees for the Associated Press Managing Editors and the American Society of News Editors.
Ceppos said he will likely remain in the Manship School faculty for some time after stepping down as dean. Ceppos said he and his wife have been discussing his leaving the position for sometime. 
“We kind of have a dream at some point of moving to Washington D.C., where I grew up,” Ceppos said. “I said ‘Well if that’s ever going to happen I need to start things in motion. I can’t just sit here.'”
Ceppos said one of the accomplishments he is most proud of during his tenure was diversifying the faculty. He said people of color comprise 40 percent of the Manship School faculty.
One of the Manship School’s primary goals during his time as dean was teaching students how to adapt to the integration of technology in the media world, Ceppos said. He made sure to emphasize the importance of being technologically literate soon upon his arrival. 
“I remember the first thing I did after I was here about six weeks — I gave everybody an iPad,” Ceppos said. “I had worked more than 25 years in Silicon Valley so [technology] is embedded in my brain.”
Although still unsure of his immediate future, Ceppos said he is excited for what his future holds.
“It’s been great fun, but after 10 and a half years it’s about time to relax and have some fun.”