On Sept. 10, Bill Slater cheered loudly with us from the stands at the TCU-SMU football game.

On Sept. 11, he wept with us at campus prayer services.

In November, Dr. William Slater, dean of the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada at Reno, accepted a new future as a Frog — and as the first dean of the College of Communication.

Provost William Koehler called Slater a “perfect fit” and said the choice was unanimous.

Slater, who will head the college beginning in the spring, called his move “a perfect opportunity.”

This 30-year communication veteran is already being called a team-builder, a long-term leader, His mission: to unite the departments of radio-television-film, speech communications and journalism, to find funding sources for their unique professional programs and to help the college increase its national prominence.

While on campus in September Slater said there is no reason TCU can’t be a premiere institution in the country. He was attracted to the university because of its forward thinking and compassionate nature.

“This is one of the most caring places I have ever seen,” he said.

Slater’s career Highlights:

• Vice president at the University of Maryland, Oregon State University, Western Illinois University, West Virginia University and Boston Broadcaster, Inc.

• Dean at the University of Nevada at Reno, Eastern Washington University and West Virginia University.

• Teacher at the University of Washington in Seattle, University of Southern California and University of Arizona.

• Newspaper and broadcast journalist in Boston, Washington, Cleveland, Seattle, San Francisco and Baltimore.

• Radio and television news anchor in Boston and covered the White House and Congress for Westinghouse Broadcasting Co.