Associate Dean of the Manship School of Mass Communication Martin Johnson will be promoted to Dean of the school effective July 1, according to an email from Provost Richard Koubek to the Manship School staff.
Johnson is the Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. Chair in Political Communication and professor of mass communication and political science, according to his biography on the Manship School’s website. Johnson is a former editor of The Daily Reveille, and a graduate of the Manship School. 
Johnson will be replacing Jerry Ceppos, who has held the position since July 2011. Ceppos will remain on the Manship School’s staff after stepping down.
Johnson, along with Ceppos and former journalism professor James E. “Jay” Shelledy, helped to create the Manship School’s Statehouse Bureau, which allows undergraduates to report on the Louisiana Legislature and have their work published in news outlets across Louisiana during the spring. 
Ceppos praised Johnson’s experience in multiple areas of the communication field that have equipped Johnson to be a good leader.
“The Manship School educates both future professional communicators and scholars who study at the intersection of media and public affairs. Martin has a deep understanding of both of those sets of students,” Ceppos said in an email. “After all, he was editor of the Reveille as an undergraduate at LSU —and his area of scholarly interest happens, by happy coincidence, to be media and politics.”
The search for Ceppos’ replacement began in August soon after he announced his retirement. By March, the search had been narrowed down to four candidates who all visited campus to meet with faculty and students.
Johnson was formally announced as dean in a press release Tuesday morning, where Koubek praised the decision.
“Dr. Johnson’s scholarly work coupled with his passion to advance mass communication education made him the ideal candidate at this critical junction for the Manship School,” Koubek said in the press release. “I look forward to working with him to advance the mission of the Manship School.”