Honoring him for one day by naming its communication school the “Ron Burgundy School of Communication”
Announcement
Boston, MA —
On Wednesday, December 4, Emerson College will name its School of Communication, for one day only, the “Ron Burgundy School of Communication” in honor of legendary anchorman Ron Burgundy. The KVWN Channel 4 Action News TV star who coined the phrase “You stay classy, San Diego” will share his path to journalism greatness with students during a day-long visit, which will include a morning press conference, the official naming ceremony, and an evening screening of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues for the Emerson community. Actor Will Ferrell, who plays the newscaster, will introduce the film.
“A visit from Ron Burgundy is a chance to engage with someone who understands the power of media, as well as hairspray, first-hand,” said Emerson College President Lee Pelton.
Emerson’s School of Communication students pursue careers in political communication, nonprofit advocacy, journalism, marketing, speech pathology, and more. The College has a long list of alumni working in all facets of communication and is regularly recognized for graduating students with media-savvy skills. Additionally, Emerson’s School of the Arts has nationally recognized programs in film; visual media; performing arts; and writing, literature and publishing.
“I had to pinch myself really hard when I learned that Emerson College was naming its School of Communication for me. It’s kind of a big deal,” said Burgundy. “I can’t wait to inspire students with my story of how I got to the top…the very top. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s a lot of work, especially if you don’t have good hair.”
According to Interim Dean of the School of Communication Phillip Glenn, “Naming our school in his honor—for one entire day—compels us to honor the Ron Burgundy that’s inside all of us…to live out our dreams, in full color and matching polyester.”
Burgundy can be seen in the new film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues from Paramount Pictures, premiering December 20, 2013. The renowned news anchor will also make his writing debut in a new memoir, Let Me Off at the Top! My Classy Life and Other Musings (Random House, Crown Archetype), available November 19, 2013.
Starting at 11:00 a.m. (EST) on December 4, the naming ceremony will be streamed live on Emerson’s website at emerson.edu/ronburgundy.
About the College
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city’s Theatre District, Emerson College educates individuals who will solve problems and change the world through engaged leadership in communication and the arts, a mission informed by liberal learning. The College has 3,780 undergraduates and 670 graduate students from across the United States and 50 countries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned faculty, students participate in more than 90 student organizations and performance groups. Emerson is known for its experiential learning programs in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, the Netherlands, London, China, and the Czech Republic as well as its new Global Portals, with the first opening last fall in Paris. The College has an active network of 51,000 alumni who hold leadership positions in communication and the arts. For more information, visit Emerson.edu.
About Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
With the ’70s behind him, San Diego’s top-rated newsman, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), returns to the news desk in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Also back for more are Ron’s co-anchor and wife, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), weather man Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), man-on-the-street reporter Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), and sports guy Champ Kind (David Koechner)—all of whom won’t make it easy to stay classy while taking New York and the nation’s first 24-hour news channel by storm. Produced by Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell, and Adam McKay. Written by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Directed by Adam McKay.