Dr. Fred Vultee, associate professor of journalism in the Department of Communication, is the executive chair of the Graduate Council. The council is responsible for overall policies on graduate education and works with graduate programs across the university on matters such as admission goals and guidelines, creating and modifying programs, and ensuring the range of contributions and perspectives on graduate education at Wayne State University are heard and discussed.

It is his second year serving as the executive chair of the council. His primary duties are to “Start and end on time! The executive committee has a wealth of knowledge and experience, so I try to make sure we are applying that expertise to shape the questions and issues we are going to put before the larger Graduate Council,” he said.

“Graduate education means a lot of things at a university this size, so it's important to make sure that we don't overlook any of the contributions that make that possible. Even with a committee this size, we can't make sure that every answer is there, but we can increase the chances that someone will know where to look for that answer.”

Vultee worked as a newspaper editor for 25 years before going back to school and earning his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. He arrived at Wayne State University in fall 2007. His research looks at media content, media practice, and media effects, particularly in conflicts and crises.