Geoffrey Cowan

Geoffrey Cowan "has been dean of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication since November 1996. He is also a professor of journalism and law and holds a professorial appointment in the USC Law School.

"Prior to becoming dean, Cowan was director of Voice of America and of the International Broadcasting Bureau. He has also served as associate director of the United States Information Agency. From 1972-93, Cowan taught communication law and policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, and was founding director of UCLA's Center for Communication Policy.

"Cowan has written two books. His first book, See No Evil: The Backstage Battle Over Sex and Violence on Television, was published in 1980 and The People v. Clarence Darrow: The Bribery Trial of America's Greatest Lawyer was published in 1993.

"As a television producer Cowan received a Prime Time Emmy Award for the movie Mark Twain And Me. He was a member of the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from 1979-84. He has also served as chair of California Common Cause, and he was chairman of the Los Angeles commission that wrote the city's ethics code. He currently serves on the board of the California Heath Care Foundation, Children Now and the Center Theater Group. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Pacific Council.“

Married to Aileen Adams.


 * Director, Common Sense Media
 * Director, International Women's Media Foundation
 * Director, Public Diplomacy Council
 * Faculty Fellow, USC Center on Public Diplomacy