RCHSS Dean Shawn Long Remembered For Commitment To Students, Scholarship

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Jan 15, 2021

RCHSS Dean Shawn Long remembered for commitment to students, scholarship

Shawn Long

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Jan 15, 2021) — Shawn Long, whose ambitious goal as dean was for Kennesaw State University to have
“the most impactful college of humanities and social sciences in the country by 2025,”
passed away on Jan. 14, following a serious illness.

Long arrived at Kennesaw State as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
in July 2019. He outlined a vision for the College, focused on equipping students
with real-world knowledge and experience through an innovative curriculum, cross-disciplinary
scholarship, experiential learning opportunities, international study, and project-based,
collaborative learning.

Long called it “an honor” to serve as dean “during this exciting time in Kennesaw
State’s history.” Reflecting his leadership and commitment, KSU supporters Norman
and Lindy Radow made one of the largest contributions in the University’s history
last year, a $9 million gift toward scholarships and other student services in the
renamed Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“Shawn Long’s time with us at Kennesaw State was far too short, but he made an indelible
impression on students, faculty and staff throughout the University,” said KSU President
Pamela Whitten. “Shawn’s dedication to the success of students, and his commitment
to the mission of our institution, was unwavering. His leadership and engagement were
critical to the historic support the College of the Humanities received from Norman
and Lindy Radow and will serve as a part of his legacy to the College and to KSU.”

Long came to Kennesaw State from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where
he was senior associate dean for academic personnel and budgeting as well as associate
dean of academic affairs for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Long spent
two decades at UNC Charlotte in multiple roles, including as a communications professor
and chair of the Department of Communication Studies.

Long was drawn to Kennesaw State’s student-centered focus, as he was dedicated to
advancing the humanities and social sciences in the lives of students and in the broader
community. In a message to students, faculty and staff at the start of his tenure,
Long pledged that “we will create the next generation of change agents and world leaders.”

“RCHSS will be known not only as the thinking college, but also as the doing college,”
Long stated. “RCHSS will prepare students to do more than think about issues. We will
provide students with the essential and critical skills they need to contribute to
society in a way that is not only effective, but transformative.”

An accomplished author, Long wrote numerous peer-reviewed articles and published three
books on communication and human interaction. His research interests included organizational
communication, virtual work, virtual teams and health communication, and he received
more than $1.3 million in project funding as a principal investigator or co-principal
investigator.

Long received his doctorate in communication from the University of Kentucky and his
master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant
administration from Tennessee State University.

Funeral arrangements are to be determined.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.