Mark Lodato

Appointed dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2020, Mark J. Lodato leads a team of some 200 faculty and staff at a school with approximately 2,400 students.

Lodato has reinforced Newhouse’s reputation as the premier school in its field, a forward-thinking institution that pivots to align with the needs of the fast-moving media and communications industries. Recognized as a prominent voice in higher education journalism and communications, Lodato serves along with a select number of deans on the Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education, among other leadership positions.

Reappointed to a second five-year term in 2025, Lodato has embraced collaborative and innovative approaches to pursuing education excellence. In September 2025, Lodato worked with leadership across the University to launch the Center for the Creator Economy, the first academic endeavor of its kind on a U.S. college campus. A joint venture between Newhouse and the Whitman School of Management, the center is the latest example of how Newhouse is leading the way in preparing students for the evolving field of communications.

Also in September, Lodato helped forge a new partnership with Sony Electronics that provides state-of-the-art equipment, hands-on training and world-class industry expertise to prepare students for careers in media, entertainment and visual communications. This follows efforts to expand professional partnerships that boost experiential learning opportunities with industry leaders like CBS News and Stations, Spectrum, Nexstar, ESPN and the New York Post.  

Lodato spearheaded plans to launch a new esports communications and management bachelor’s program in 2024 in partnership with the Falk College of Sport. The program is among the first of its kind at a major university, meeting a growing need for communications professionals in a burgeoning industry.

During Lodato’s tenure, Newhouse partnered with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs to launch the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship in Washington, D.C. The initiative, which aims to strengthen trust in media, governance and society, creates opportunities for faculty thought leadership, collaborative research and student engagement.

Bolstering research and creative activity efforts have also been a priority under Lodato, aligning with Syracuse University’s top-flight status as an R1 research institution. The school is committed to taking a lead role in the research and national conversation around the responsible use of artificial intelligence in communications.

Newhouse has seen record increases in diverse representation of students, faculty and staff since Lodato joined the school. He has invested more than $1 million into efforts that build a welcoming environment for all Newhouse students, faculty and staff.

Affirming Newhouse’s reputation for academic excellence, an April 2023 reaccreditation report lauded the school as one of the “very best” for mass communications.

Besides serving on the Carnegie-Knight initiative, Lodato represents the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC) on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). He also is a member of the Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Steering Committee.

Lodato joined the Newhouse School after more than 14 years at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he served as associate dean and associate general manager at Arizona PBS. There, he established new partnerships with leading media corporations and oversaw broadcast news operations, including the national award-winning “Cronkite News.” Under his leadership, Cronkite School broadcast students consistently ranked among the nation’s best in premier journalism competitions.

Lodato spent 16 years as an award-winning television reporter and anchor for network affiliate television stations in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Phoenix and Fort Myers, Florida. A native of Menlo Park, California, Lodato holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Arizona State.