Cary Granat Will Become Moody College Dean

The media executive is set to lead the Austin-based communication school starting later this month.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a symbolic limestone university building facade, navy and cream with red accents, representing academic leadership. — Cary Granat, co-founder of Egeria Media, has been appointed as the new dean of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The University of Texas at Austin has announced the appointment of Cary Granat as the new dean of the Moody College of Communication. Granat is scheduled to officially step into his new position on Sept. 28, 2026.

Why it matters

Granat joins the institution as it maintains a top ranking for media studies among public universities. His leadership appointment follows an extensive selection process conducted by a consultative committee chaired by the College of Fine Arts dean.

Granat brings 30 years of professional experience in media industries to the role. He also spent 15 years serving on the steering council at Tufts University.

The players

Cary Granat

He is an experienced media executive and the co-founder and co-CEO of Egeria Media.

Anita Vangelisti

She served as the interim dean of the Moody College of Communication since August 2024.

The details

Granat is the co-founder and co-CEO of Egeria Media and a former CEO of Walden Media. Interim Dean Anita Vangelisti, who has served in the role since August 2024, will transition to become the senior associate dean for academic affairs.

August 2024: Anita Vangelisti began serving as interim dean.
September 22, 2026: The university announced the appointment of Cary Granat.
September 28, 2026: Cary Granat officially begins the dean role.

Market Landscape

The appointment signals a shift in academic leadership by integrating decades of private-sector media expertise into a top-tier public university environment. This move allows the college to bridge the gap between industry-standard media production and traditional communication research.

Students and faculty at the Moody College of Communication will see a leadership transition at the start of the academic term. The changeover will shift Vangelisti to a senior associate dean role, ensuring continuity for ongoing academic operations.

The takeaway

Granat's appointment reflects an ongoing trend of universities selecting experienced industry executives to lead specialized academic colleges. His tenure will be tested by the high expectations set by the university's top-ranked media program.