​Dr. David D. Perlmutter served as dean of the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University from 2013 to 2023. He is a noted scholar in political communication, new media technologies, and higher education. He has authored or edited 10 books along with several dozen research articles.

He has also been a contributing writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education for more than 20 years, publishing the “Career Confidential” column on a broad range of topics covering academic administration, governance, and culture. During this time, he also authored a seven-part series for The Chronicle entitled, “Don’t Fear Fund Raising.” This series was republished in its entirety, along with a new foreword in the 2021 book, Fundraising Principles for Faculty and Academic Leaders by Drs. Aaron Conley and Genevieve Shaker.

Dr. Perlmutter experienced early fundraising success in his first academic leadership role as director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Iowa. Among the many gifts he secured, one established the nation’s first undergraduate certificate for aspiring fundraisers, which is still offered today.   

He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Minnesota.