Elizabeth Vowell Blades Named Director of LSU’s Office of Student Media
July 10, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2026
For more information, contact:
jbarbe10@lsu.edu
BATON ROUGE—The LSU Manship School of Mass Communication announced today that Elizabeth Vowell Blades has been named director of LSU's Office of Student Media. Blades will begin her new role on Aug. 17, 2026.
An award-winning journalist and longtime television news anchor, Blades brings more than 15 years of newsroom experience and a passion for mentoring aspiring journalists. She joins the Office of Student Media after serving as an anchor and reporter at WAFB, where she covered many of the Baton Rouge area's most significant stories while earning national and regional recognition for her work.
"Elizabeth has built an outstanding reputation as a journalist who leads with integrity, curiosity and a commitment to serving her community," said Manship School Dean Kim Bissell, Ph.D. "She understands the evolving media landscape and the importance of preparing students to thrive in it. Her professional experience, dedication to ethical journalism and passion for teaching make her an exceptional choice to lead LSU's Office of Student Media, and we are excited to welcome her into this role."
Blades has served as an adjunct instructor in the Manship School since 2022, where she discovered a passion for teaching and mentoring students alongside her professional career. That experience inspired her to pursue the opportunity full time.
"In some ways, joining the Office of Student Media feels like a homecoming," said Blades. "My first job in news was at the student media center at the University of Mississippi, and it was what cemented my passion for journalism. I'm excited to return to those roots.”
In her new role, Blades plans to build on the Office of Student Media's tradition of excellence by ensuring students gain the practical experience, multimedia skills and professional confidence needed to succeed in today's evolving media industry.
"My goal is to make sure students leave the Office of Student Media with the experience, confidence and multimedia skills to walk into any newsroom or media company in the country and hit the ground running,” said Blades. “I want them to discover their own passion for journalism and graduate as some of the most sought-after recruits in the profession."
Since joining WAFB in 2012, Blades has covered many of the biggest stories in the Baton Rouge area while producing award-winning documentaries on the impact of the opioid epidemic on the Capital Region and the lasting impact of impaired driving. Her work has earned two National Edward R. Murrow Awards, multiple Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, two Telly Awards, five Regional Emmy Awards and multiple statewide awards with the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters and the Associated Press including Reporter of the Year in 2016.
As director of LSU's Office of Student Media, Blades will oversee the university's award-winning student media organizations, providing leadership and mentorship while supporting hands-on learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in journalism and mass communication.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact Joseph Barber at JBarbe10@lsu.edu
###
LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: Master of Mass Communication, Ph.D. in Media and Public Affairs, Certificate of Strategic Communication and a dual MMC/Law degree. Like us on Facebook @ManshipSchool, or follow us on X @ManshipSchool, Instagram @ManshipSchool and LinkedIn LSU Manship School of Mass Communication.