Charles Whitaker is dean and professor at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. He also serves on the OVIS Advisory Board. Whitaker previously served as the Helen Gurley Brown Professor and associate dean of journalism for the school. 

Since joining the Medill faculty in 1993, he has taught courses in news writing, magazine writing, magazine editing and blogging. In addition to teaching in Medill’s graduate and undergraduate programs, Whitaker teaches in Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies and the Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute (aka, the Cherub program)

Whitaker has received commendations for his work from a number of journalism societies, including the National Association of Black Journalists, Society of Professional Journalists and National Education Writers Association.

Whitaker has served as a judge for the National Magazine Awards and the International Regional Magazine Awards Association. He currently serves on the board of directors of the American Society of Magazine Editors.

Whitaker earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Medill and is a doctoral candidate in Human Development and Social Policy in Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy.