The search committee for the Medill School of Journalism’s next dean was announced Sunday by Provost Daniel Linzer.

The committee will be chaired by Medill Prof. Jack Doppelt and includes professors, alumni and faculty from Medill, professors from other Northwestern schools and a student co-chair from the Medill Undergraduate Student Advisory Council.

The committee’s choice will replace John Lavine, who has directed Medill since January 2006. Lavine incorporated the Integrated Marketing Communications program at Medill. This was part of his Medill 2020 plan, which he created in 2005 to gradually transform Medill into a more multimedia-oriented journalism school. The high-profile dean also received a $4.2 million grant from the John S. Knight Foundation to establish the Knight News Innovation Lab, which focuses on building technology to improve media effectiveness. Lavine will officially step down Aug. 31, 2012.

“Lavine maintained Medill’s top standing,” Doppelt said. “We are literally prospecting a search to frame the future of journalism.”

Doppelt said the committee will receive a charge from the provost on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The following week, the committee will meet with students, faculty, alumni, advisory boards, staff and other NU deans to write an official job description.

The committee will accept