Jean Folkerts

Jean Folkerts is Visiting Professor and Scholar at the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism at Kansas State University. She is also Dean Emeritus and Alumni Distinguished Professor of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Ph.D. in American studies from the University of Kansas, and a B.A. and M.S. in journalism from Kansas State University.

Prior to her deanship at UNC, Folkerts served in several roles at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. These included being Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs, Professor of Honors, Associate Vice President for Special Academic Initiatives, and Interim Dean of Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

In 2001 she was named Teacher of the Year by the Freedom Forum for excellence in the teaching of media history. From 1992 to 2001, she was editor of Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. She is the author of several editions each of two books, and of many journal and popular articles. Her research specialty is media history. She serves on the editorial board of Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly.