Syraucuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said in an email to the Syracuse University community today that S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications Dean Lorraine Branham died of cancer. She was 66 years old. Branham had served as the dean of the school since 2008.
Branham oversaw the creation of the Newhouse Sports Media Center and the school's emphasis in sports communication. Additionally, she was the driving force behind the fundraising efforts for the rennovation of Newhouse 2.
Branhman helped in the creation of the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, the Peter A. Horvitz Endowed Chair in Journalism Innovation, and the W20 Group Center for Social Commerce.
In his email, Chancellor Syverud said, "Dean Branham was many things, most importantly a pillar in the Syracuse University community and beyond, an icon in the media industry, an academic innovator, a mentor, an educator, an insiration and a friend."
In a tweet, SU Professor Charisse L'Pree reflected on Branham writing, "We lost an icon today. I lost a sister, a mentor, and a hero. I'm just grateful I got to share some of my happiest and proudest moments with the incomparable Lorraine Branham."
She served as the Director of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin prior to her time at Syraucse. Before her career in higher education, she worked as a newspaper reporter at the Baltimore Sun, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the Philidelphia Inquierer.
Syverud said the University plans to host events in Syracuse and globally to honor Dean Branham. The details of those events will be shared onced arrangements are finalized.