AUSTIN, Texas – Aug. 21, 2012 – This fall, The University of Texas at Austin College of Communication's Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Participation will have a new director and new name.

Regina Lawrence, professor in the College's School of Journalism and faculty fellow for the Strauss Institute, succeeds College of Communication Dean Roderick P. Hart, founding director.

"Regina combines intellectual vision with personal grace and brings real gravitas to the job," said Dean Hart, who has known Lawrence for 20 years. "I will remain active at the Institute, helping when I can with external matters. But Regina's willingness to lead the Institute will give me more time for teaching and research. I have no doubt that Regina will build on the Institute's strengths and also lead us in exciting new directions."

Lawrence, who also holds the Jesse H. Jones Centennial Chair in Communication, is a nationally recognized authority on the press and public policy. In the School of Journalism, Lawrence teaches courses in political communication; women and the news; and media, youth and civic engagement.

Her most recent books are "Foreign Correspondence," "Hillary Clinton's Race for the White House: Gender Politics and the Media on the Campaign Trail" and "When the Press Fails: Political Power and the News Media from Iraq to Katrina."

Lawrence holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Washington. In 2003, she served as a research fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Chair of the Political Communication section of the American Political Science Association, Lawrence has served as book editor of the journal Political Communication.

In its 12 years, the Strauss Institute's objectives have expanded beyond direct political activities to include community leadership, civic entrepreneurship, executive communication and a variety of research projects. Illustrating these changes, the Institute has changed its name to the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life.

"The phrase 'civic life' reflects the broad scope and evolving mission of the Institute and captures the high level of energy we bring to our work," Lawrence said. "While the Institute will still offer programs that encourage informed voting, our larger mission of confronting apathy and political disaffection is becoming more prominent, as well."

The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life was established as an organized research unit at The University of Texas at Austin in 2000 to respond to growing political cynicism and disaffection in the United States. The Institute's mission is strictly non-partisan, working within communities to engage people in the political process, teaching them about the nation's democratic heritage and encouraging them to take leadership roles.

One of the nation's foremost institutions for the study of advertising and public relations, communication sciences and disorders, communication studies, journalism and radio-TV-film, The University of Texas at Austin College of Communication is preparing students to thrive in an era of media convergence. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is nationally recognized for its faculty members, research and student media. For more information about the College of Communication, visit http://communication.utexas.edu.

Contacts: Laura Byerley, (512) 471-2182; or Regina Lawrence, (512) 232-4433.