Harsha Gangadharbatla will serve as interim dean of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Magnus Egerstedt announced Wednesday. Gangadharbatla, the senior associate dean for academic and faculty affairs and Hugh Morton Distinguished Professor, takes over for Raul Reis, who stepped down as dean after four years to focus on his research and teaching. He served as its associate dean of faculty development and was the founding chairperson of the advertising, public relations and media department. His research interests include the role of technology in advertising, the role of advertising in society and environmental communication. The University will launch a search for Hussman’s next permanent dean in the coming months.