Andrea Hickerson

Notable work and positions

University of Mississippi - Dean, School of Journalism and New Media
University of South Carolina - Former Director, School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Rochester Institute of Technology - Former Director, School of Communication

Biography

Andrea Hickerson is dean and professor at the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi, a position she assumed in July 2022 following approval by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board of trustees. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and international relations from Syracuse University, master's degrees in journalism and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas, and a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Washington. Before joining Ole Miss, she served as director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and associate dean in the College of Information and Communications at the University of South Carolina, and earlier as director of the School of Communication at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on journalism routines and technology use, including deepfakes and manipulated video content and their implications for verification practices in journalism; she has authored or co-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed journal articles. She received the University of South Carolina's Educational Foundation Research Award from Professional Schools, one of the university's highest research honors, for her deepfake research.

Career highlights

• Dean, School of Journalism and New Media, University of Mississippi Since July 2022.
• Director, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina Also served as associate dean, College of Information and Communications.
• Research on deepfakes and journalistic verification Studies the intersection of journalism, technology, and misinformation.