UNC’s Senior Week featured ‘Last Lecture’ by journalism professor Susan King

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Last Lecture event during Senior Week at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill featured Professor Susan King, John Thomas Kerr Distinguished Professor Dean Emerita for Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The event, which took place on Tuesday, April 18, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at McCorkle Place, was open to the class of 2023 with no sign-up required. 

King’s retirement had been announced by the university on Tuesday. She had served as the school’s dean since January 2012 and had contributed significantly to its growth and success during her tenure. Under her leadership, the school had become the University’s second-largest major, surpassed its $75 million fundraising goal, and established collaborations with industry and peers that supported innovation and diversity in media and journalism. 

King’s retirement concluded her decade-long service as dean, but she remains in her position until a successor is named. A search committee has been appointed to oversee the dean search, chaired by UNC School of Information and Library Science Dean Gary Marchionini. The committee is expected to identify an outstanding candidate to continue the school’s progress in the coming years. 

The Last Lecture tradition at UNC, which began in 2007 with Dr. Randy Pausch’s speech at Carnegie Mellon University, allows seniors to reflect on their time at Carolina and receive advice for the future from a selected faculty member or coach.