Oprah Winfrey Dedicates Syracuse​’s Revamped $18 Million Communications Center and D​ick Clark Studios

Oprah Winfrey added star power to a dedication ceremony at Syracuse University on Monday for the newly renovated Newhouse School of Public Communications Innovation Center featuring D​ick Clark Studios and the Alan Gerry Center.

Winfrey was joined on stage by Kari Clark, wife of late Syracuse alum Dick Clark, plus Lorraine Branham, the school’s dean and university chancellor Kent Syverud.

“I came to give the biggest shout out possible to the Newhouse family because I believe that what you all have done is what we’re meant to do as human beings,” Winfrey told the crowd in attendance. “We’re meant to take our lives, do the best we can, be excellent in our lives and then use what we have been given to impact others.”

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The facility recently underwent an $18 million makeover, and now includes high definition production capabilities, a soundstage, a media lab for journalism innovation and a brand new digital news center.

Dick Clark graduated from the University in 1951, and the legendary entertainer’s widow made a major financial contribution towards the renovation project. Alan Gerry, president of Granite Associates and Donald Newhouse, president of Advance Publications are also major donors, according to the university’s website.

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The Newhouse School of Public Communications was established in 1964 and is named after magazine and newspaper publisher Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr.