DePauw Stories

DePauw University has named Wendy Whitt as the new director of the Eugene S. Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media. A recognized powerhouse in multimedia strategy and marketing, Whitt brings a comprehensive portfolio of industry expertise to the university’s hub for student media activities and education.

Whitt’s appointment follows a highly competitive national search, placing a forward-thinking innovator at the helm of DePauw’s media initiatives. She steps into the role ready to elevate the Pulliam Center and ensure DePauw students remain on the forefront of today’s rapidly evolving communications landscape.

“Wendy is a dynamic, visionary leader who deeply understands the complexity of the modern media ecosystem,” said DePauw president Lori S. White. “Her strategic expertise and passion for storytelling will be a tremendous addition to DePauw. She is uniquely equipped to empower our students, further distinguishing the Pulliam Center as a premier national incubator for the next generation of journalists, broadcasters and digital creators.”

Whitt arrives at DePauw with a distinguished track record of navigating and mastering the intricacies of modern media. She has most recently served as the associate director and an associate instructor in the Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications at the University of South Florida. Her career spans high-level strategic brand marketing, digital media production and podcasting, and she has worked at newspapers in Florida, California and North Carolina. Known for her ability to craft and amplify powerful narratives across a multitude of modern platforms, she has consistently driven innovation and audience engagement in all of her previous roles.

“I am delighted to join the DePauw University Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media and its outstanding staff, faculty and students,” said Whitt. “The Pulliam Center is a place of tremendous opportunity for student engagement and experiential learning that supports the university's goal of fostering strong analytical, critical and visionary thinking. I look forward to collaborating with campus and other partners to elevate the Pulliam Center's standing as a leading voice in journalism and media and to expanding its work in advancing the role of media in democracy.”

Her mission at the Pulliam Center will be to bridge the gap between traditional journalism and elite digital strategy. Under her leadership, the Pulliam Center will continue to serve as a premier training ground, where students from all academic disciplines can master the practical, hands-on tools needed to thrive in broadcasting, mass media and creative entrepreneurship.

A champion of experiential learning, Whitt operates on the philosophy that the most impactful media education requires a hands-on, high-stakes environment. By leveraging the Pulliam Center’s world-class radio, television and print resources, including WGRE, The DePauw and D3TV, alongside ambitious new digital initiatives, she aims to build a cutting-edge space that mirrors the fast-paced reality of the modern media industry.

Whitt will assume her new role on July 6, 2026, bringing her leadership and wisdom to the heart of DePauw's campus.