UT Austin Names Cary Granat Dean of Moody College of Communication

The University of Texas at Austin has announced Cary Granat as the new dean of the Moody College of Communication, starting on September 28. Granat, co-founder and former CEO of Walden Media, brings over three decades of experience in film, media, education, and entrepreneurship to the position. He played a crucial role in expanding Walden Media into a global family entertainment company, overseeing successful films such as "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Charlotte's Web," and "Journey to the Center of the Earth."

Granat's tenure at Miramax-Dimension Entertainment also included transforming Dimension Films into a media enterprise with a focus on film, music, and publishing, producing notable franchises like "Scream," "Scary Movie," and "Spy Kids." Currently, Granat is co-founder and co-CEO of Austin-based Egeria Media, as well as a founding partner of "Eyes of the World: The Jerry Garcia Experience," an immersive touring production celebrating the life and legacy of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia.

Granat expressed his humility at being chosen for the dean position, emphasizing the importance of communication and media's role in our daily lives. His academic background includes teaching at Bar-Ilan University and serving on the steering council of Tufts University's Film and Media Studies program. Granat succeeds Interim Dean Anita Vangelisti, who will continue her role as senior associate dean for academic affairs.

Moody College of Communication was recently ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for communication and media studies by the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.