Sonya Forte Duhé will no longer serve as ASU’s Cronkite School dean

PHOENIX — Sonya Forte Duhé will not assume the role as dean for Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Duhé was originally chosen to become dean on July 1.

An interim dean will be announced in the future, the Cronkite School confirmed in a tweet.

Provost Searle announced tonight that Sonya Forte Duhé will not assume the position of Cronkite dean on July 1. An interim dean will be announced at a later date. The Cronkite School remains committed to being a diverse, equitable and inclusive school.

— Cronkite School (@Cronkite_ASU) June 8, 2020

“Issues and concerns have arisen and additional information has come to light,” Executive Vice President and University Provost Mark Searle wrote in an email Sunday night to the ASU community.

“I now find that the future of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and our public television station will be better served by not advancing with Dr. Duhé as their leader.”

Searle arrived at the decision following allegations Duhé engaged in racist misconduct during her time as Loyola University New Orleans’ director of the School of Communication and Design, according to ABC15.

The State Press reported that between 2013 and 2019, Duhé criticized the appearances of black student-journalists as well as criticizing the opinions of gay students.

Duhé also drew criticism from former students this past week after she posted a since-deleted tweet in which she claimed to be praying for peace and George Floyd’s family amid the nationwide protests, according to The State Press.

Related

ASU, NAU release details about resuming on-campus classes in fallAuthorities identify victims, suspect killed in stabbing that led to Gilbert Police shooting28 indicted in Arizona gun trafficking ring that funneled AK-style rifles toward MexicoAlleged sex worker, underage boyfriend arrested in connection with fatal Phoenix apartment shootingDemocrat Katie Hobbs reportedly taps Republican John Giles as her Lt. Gov. running mateSalad and Go files for bankruptcy, will permanently close all locations