Journalism Education Association Executive Director Kelly Furnas, CJE, announced this week that he has accepted a position as a lecturer in multimedia journalism and newsroom mentor on the faculty of Elon (N.C.) University. His new duties will begin in the fall.

“No doubt it’s hard to lose someone of Kelly’s caliber. He has been an exceptional leader, an incredible asset to JEA,” JEA President Mark Newton, MJE, said. “JEA has become a better, stronger organization under his tenure. I am incredibly thankful for his vision and leadership, and wish him nothing but the best in his new position.”

The role of JEA executive director is part of a faculty position in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, where JEA is headquartered. Newton has been in contact with K-State administrators to determine a timeline and process for transitioning to a new executive director.

Newton said he and Dr. Birgit Wassmuth, the JMC department chair, are working diligently on a plan to find and hire a new director.

“Obviously, there are a lot of moving parts — State of Kansas and Kansas State University hiring policy, for example,” Newton said. “Dr. Wassmuth has assured me that, even though K-State hires our executive director, JEA will have significant input throughout the entire process.”

“Kelly has been an outstanding colleague and academic citizen at the A.Q. Miller School,” Wassmuth said. “He is one of the best professors we have on our faculty. We will dearly miss him. I am confident that we will find creative ways to collaborate with him at Elon.”

Newton also said the JEA board of directors will take this opportunity to identify the organization’s current and future wants and needs to create a profile for its next executive director.

In the meantime, Newton said Furnas already has begun working on a transition plan. “It’s also important to note that day-to-day operations are still ongoing and long-term operations like convention planning are as well,” Newton said.

“We have a big challenge ahead of us,” Newton said. “I’m glad we get to work with K-State and the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications on this opportunity.”