EUGENE–Citing his desire to return to teaching and writing, Duncan McDonald, University of Oregon vice president for public affairs and development, announced today (Sept. 15) that he would not accept a contract renewal when his term expires on June 30, 2001.

"I have been away from the classroom for almost 10 years as a result of a number of administrative assignments both here and away from the university," said McDonald. "As I near my 25th year of service to the University of Oregon, I feel a strong pull to conclude my career where it began, as a professor in our School of Journalism and Communication."

McDonald, author or co-author of 12 books and editions, including "When Words Collide," says he also looks forward to continuing his writing and research. In addition, he plans to contribute more time to national board service, including that of public member of the Accrediting Council on Graduate Medical Education and of board membership with the Freedom Forum Foundation.

UO President Dave Frohnmayer praised McDonald for his contributions to the UO during his tenure as vice president.

"Duncan expressed to me a year ago his desire to return to his professional love–teaching and writing–at which he excels. His excellence in teaching earned him the prestigious UO Ersted Award, and our students will benefit greatly from his return to the classroom," said Frohnmayer. "I am deeply appreciative of Duncan’s ongoing contributions to the UO. We have had our most successful fund-raising year ever under Duncan’s leadership, and he has handled the many demands of this very broad portfolio with creativity and great devotion to the UO."

Frohnmayer said the university will immediately launch a national search for McDonald’s successor.

McDonald was appointed to his current position in March 1997 and during his tenure the UO successfully completed the largest fund-raising campaign in the history of Oregon. The six-year Oregon Campaign raised more than $250 million, endowing faculty chairs, funding new student scholarships, and providing seed money to develop exciting new approaches to education.

McDonald, 55, was dean of the UO School of Journalism and Communication from July 1994 until his appointment as vice president. On leave from the UO from 1992—94, he served as deputy director and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University in New York City, the largest media foundation in the United States.

McDonald has taught UO courses ranging from reporting and grammar for journalists to photographic essay. In 1982, he received the university’s Ersted Award for Distinguished Teaching, and a year later, he was honored by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Modern Media Institute with its National Teaching Award.

Founder of the journalism school’s student peer advising program in 1981, McDonald has served in various school and UO posts including the University Senate.

A 1966 journalism graduate of Ohio University in Athens, McDonald received a master’s degree in industrial relations and labor economics from the University of Oregon in 1972. He joined the UO journalism faculty in 1978.

McDonald has had a varied career in journalism and academia. Included are stints as a reporter and editor for newspapers in Ohio and Illinois in the late 1960s; as owner and publisher of West-Lane News and Tri-County publications in Veneta and Junction City, Ore., from 1972—76; and as a contract photographer for Sunset magazine, Explorers World and others since 1976.

A member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Press Photographers Association, he has chaired and served since 1989 on accrediting teams for the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

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