The University of Texas at Austin has selected Cary Granat, the co-founder and former CEO of Walden Media and a prominent media executive, entrepreneur and educator, to serve as the next dean of the Moody College of Communication, effective Monday, Sept. 28.
Granat brings more than three decades of experience at the nexus of storytelling, technology, education and enterprise. His career spans a broad spectrum of the communications and media landscape, from distributing major film franchises and building global media businesses to teaching and partnering with universities and civic organizations. That breadth of experience will provide Moody students and faculty members with a leader who understands both the enduring principles of effective communication and the rapidly changing industries in which those principles are put into practice.
Granat helped build an idea inspired by Henry David Thoreau into a global family media enterprise reaching hundreds of millions of children and families. Across film, publishing, educational programming and other experiences, Walden became a widely recognized brand, producing films including “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” as well as oceanographic films with James Cameron.
“Cary brings a remarkable range of experience across the worlds of media, education and enterprise, united by a lifelong commitment to storytelling and communication,” said William Inboden, executive vice president and provost. “Communication and media are undergoing profound changes driven by new technologies and new ways of creating, distributing and consuming information. Cary understands those changes firsthand, while also appreciating the enduring importance of rigorous scholarship, excellent teaching and preparing our students to lead. I look forward to working with him to build on Moody’s considerable strengths.”
Before co-founding Walden, Granat served as president and chief operating officer of Miramax-Dimension Entertainment, where he helped transform Dimension Films into a major media enterprise spanning film, music and publishing. During his tenure, he produced, developed and launched successful films and franchises including “Scream,” “Scary Movie” and “Spy Kids.”
Today, Granat is co-founder and co-CEO of Austin-based Egeria Media, a family entertainment studio. He is also a founding partner in “Eyes of the World: The Jerry Garcia Experience,” a new immersive touring production celebrating the life and legacy of the Grateful Dead guitarist.
“I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve as dean of the Moody College of Communication,” Granat said. “Our students and faculty are among our most cherished treasures, and Moody has extraordinary strength in both. We are at a unique moment when the integrity and impact of communication are increasingly consequential to our daily lives. My goal is to ensure that the innovative work of our faculty, research centers and students serves as a positive force for Texas and the world. I am grateful to President Davis and Provost Inboden for their trust, and I look forward to working with Anita Vangelisti, our department chairs and our dedicated staff to build on Moody’s remarkable foundation.”
Granat’s experience extends beyond the traditional entertainment industry. He founded EMH Consultancy Group, through which he has worked with governments around the world to strengthen and develop their media industries. His work with countries including New Zealand and Colombia has involved developing production infrastructure, incentive frameworks, international co-production agreements, and programs to cultivate local creative talent.
Alongside his industry leadership, Granat has maintained extensive connections to teaching and research. He served as a university instructor at Bar-Ilan University, teaching courses on propaganda analysis, media influence and persuasion. He also served for 15 years on the steering council of Tufts University’s Film and Media Studies program, helping support its development from an experimental program into an academic department.
Throughout his career, Granat has developed collaborations connecting universities and scholarship with media production and public engagement. His partnerships have included work with scholars and students at the University of Oxford, Harvard University, Duke University and the University of California at Berkeley, as well as scientific collaborations involving institutions such as MIT-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories.
Granat also served from 1996 to 2020 on the board of World Information Transfer, a nongovernmental organization in general consultative status with the United Nations that promotes global environmental health and literacy.
He also has longstanding ties to Austin and Texas’ media industry. During his time at Miramax-Dimension, he oversaw Dimension’s physical production hub at the former Mueller Municipal Airport in partnership with filmmakers Robert Rodriguez, Guillermo del Toro and Mike Judge. He later served as a board member and partner of Dallas-based Reel FX Animation Studios, helping the company expand from an animation services studio into an original content creator. He returned to Austin in 2024 to establish Egeria Media.
“Cary Granat brings industry depth to the role at a time when Texas media and communication industries are on the rise and influencing the discipline far beyond our state,” said Ramón Rivera-Severa, dean of the College of Fine Arts and consultative committee chair. “Here on the Forty Acres, communication disciplines touch every single field on campus, and I look forward to partnering with Cary as he works to enhance the impact of the Moody College of Communication.”
Granat succeeds Interim Dean Anita Vangelisti, who has led the Moody College since August 2024. During her successful tenure, the college continued to expand opportunities for students and build on its academic strengths, including launching the Karch Gaming Institute, expanding programming in emerging areas of communication and establishing the $10 million Eastin Center for Career Readiness. Moody was also ranked the No. 1 public university in the United States for communication and media studies in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject. Vangelisti will remain a key member of Granat’s leadership team in a new role as senior associate dean for academic affairs.
