Mark Braun

Mark J. Braun is Provost and Dean of the College at Gustavus Adolphus College. As the college's Chief Academic Officer, he serves on the President’s Cabinet and has general responsibility for the entire academic program, including the direction of both academic deans, academic strategic planning and facilities planning. He has oversight of the Nobel Conference, the Hillstrom Museum of Art, the Linnaeus Arboretum, the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library, Gustavus Technology Services, the Office of Institutional Research, International and Cultural Education, the Registrar’s Office, and Academic Advising.  He represents the academic program to both internal and external constituencies, and works with Institutional Advancement to secure the resources needed to support the academic program. He also works with the Faculty Senate, the Faculty Personnel Committee, and the College Budget Committee.

Dr. Braun served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., from 2007 to 2011. Prior to that, he served Gustavus for 17 years, first as professor and chair of the Department of Communication Studies, where he taught courses in media and society, media process and criticism, broadcasting, organizational communication, communication theory, and persuasion. He served as Associate Dean at Gustavus from 1999 to 2007.

Dr. Braun holds a doctorate in speech-communication from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in speech-communication from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has an extensive record of service to the field of higher education and to the communities in which he has lived. He has served on assessment and planning teams for the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), has been a member of the board of directors of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA), and has been a manuscript reviewer for several publishers in his field. His research interests include technology policy making, gender and mass media organizations, and communication studies pedagogy. His book, AM Stereo and the FCC: A Marketplace Shibboleth, is an analysis of federal regulatory decision-making on new technology. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Braun has made presentations and served on panels at workshops and conferences hosted by such organizations as the Council of Independent Colleges, the Lutheran Academic Officers Conference, and the National Communication Association. He has been interviewed by numerous media outlets, including Minnesota Public Radio, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the St. PaulPioneer Press, and WCCO radio. In 1994, he received the Outstanding Citizen Award from the City of Mankato in recognition of his many contributions to that community.

Courses Taught