alumni news & notes - School of Journalism and Mass ...

Winter 2009 

Photos from the top: at the William Randolph 

Hearst Writing Foundation Awards dinner after the 

J-School placed first in the Hearst National Writing 

Competition for the third consecutive year; the 

second class of journalists who participated in 

the “Bridging the Gap: A Military Experience for 

Journalists” workshop gather in front of the iconic 

Fort Leavenworth lamp; and the 2009 Wooldridge 

Scholars at an annual recognition dinner. 

In this issue... 

+ Photojournalism at the J-School & study 

abroad photo courses 

+ Professionals-in-residence visit the J-School 

+ Carol Holstead receives 2010 Budig Teaching 

Professorship of Writing 

+ William Allen White Day preview 

+ Q&A with Associate Dean Barbara Barnett 

+ Giving thanks to the Deans Club 

+ Alumni Profile: Eric Morgenstern 

+ Alumni News & Notes 

Photojournalism at the J-School 

By Associate Professor Mike Williams, News and Information Track Chair 

W 

ith the media profession 

continuing 

its upheaval, the J-School 

is deep in the process of 

revising its curriculum 

to meet the needs of current 

and future students. 

A significant change is the 

addition of a visual communication 

course requirement 

for all J-School undergraduates. 

This requirement may 

take the form of a single 

overview course that exposes 

students to the full 

range of visual forms and 

uses. But for some students, 

it also could mean 

immersion into a more specialized 

area of journalism that has been a part of the curriculum for at least 50 years. 

Photojournalism, as a separate journalism major, has been a significant contributor to 

the School’s reputation of excellence, with photo graduates winning recognition from Pulitzer 

Prizes to World Press Association awards, and rising to some of the most prominent 

positions in the profession. KU photo alumni have held or currently hold editorships and 

photographer positions at top newspapers, magazines, wire services and corporations in 

the U.S. and abroad. 

Letter from the Dean 

T 

Tomas Hailemariam jumps for a header while playing soccer in his neighborhood 

streets in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hailemariam’s tuition-free NGO school, 

Fregenet, is in danger of closing because of a lack of funds. Photo by J-School 

senior Jon Goering. 

(Photojournalism – continued on page 2) 

hey say a picture is worth a thousand words. And, if that is 

true, then this issue of J-Links contains many, many thousands 

of words! Like wonderfully written prose, photojournalism 

tells a story. 

On the wall in my office is one of the most famous photos 

of all time — Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima. This iconic 

photo by Joe Rosenthal was a gift from Rich Clarkson, another 

iconic photojournalist and KU J-School alumnus. When I look at 

that photo, I see men who are celebrating a triumph over some 

of the worst situations this nation has ever faced. I also think of 

my mother, who was a Marine, and my father, who was badly hurt in World War II but 

came home to raise his family despite the horrors he had seen. Amazing times, amazing 

people, amazing stories. 

Photos like this continue to inspire us. Earlier this month, I came back from a meeting 

about budget cuts and about the time I was thinking that we are facing some tough times, 

the Iwo Jima photo caught my eye. The triumph of human will over adversity is a message 

for all times. We can take lessons from the past in how we face today’s challenges. 

(Dean’s letter – continued on page 2)

Dean Ann Brill visits with alumni and friends of the J-School: with Barbara Kinney of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; with Corrie Moore and graduate Corkey Trewin of 

the Seattle Seahawks; with graduate Dr. Bob Musburger, retired; and with the late Mark Pittman, 1981 graduate and reporter for Bloomberg News. 

(Dean’s letter – continued from page 1) 

The hardships and difficulties 

those Marines overcame to raise 

that flag inspire us to maintain 

our ingenuity and integrity in 

tough times. 

And, we are facing tough 

times in the School of Journalism. 

We are seeing dramatic changes 

in the media landscape compounded 

by the economic downturn 

that continues to alter our 

financial plans. I am happy to report 

that we still have recruiters 

on campus and students are finding 

jobs upon graduation – but 

they are, in many cases, different 

companies and different jobs than 

in the past. Today’s employers 

are looking for eager, dedicated, 

entrepreneurial workers who understand 

the need to have solid 

journalism skills as well as technical 

and critical thinking abilities. 

Those employers are finding 

that journalism students at KU 

meet those requirements. 

Part of understanding our 

changing landscape is educating 

our students about the importance 

of visual communication. 

That is one of the competencies 

we require of all our students. 

The enduring value of photographs, 

like the one taken at Iwo 

Jima, is a testament to the power 

of visuals to communicate. Every 

day, that photo gives me inspiration, 

courage and memories of 

a time where others fought the 

good fight. 

During this season of giving, 

people are asking what they can 

do for others that is meaningful 

and lasting. Might I suggest giving 

an inspiring photo? Trust me, 

it will create a lasting impression. 

Happy Holidays from all of 

us here at the J-School! 

(Photojournalism – continued from page 1) 

With the curriculum 

revision of 

nearly 10 years ago, 

and changes in faculty 

assignments over 

the years, photography 

became less 

emphasized in the J- 

School’s plan. Taught 

by several excellent 

adjuncts, students 

still had the opportunity 

to learn the 

skills. But the lack of 

involvement provided 

by full-time faculty 

led to a decline in 

student interest and 

success. 

As the Internet expanded, so did the number of presentation opportunities available 

to journalists. A renewed recognition of the importance of photography and its 

utility in the media mix caused the J-School to search for faculty to reinvigorate its 

photo program. 

Over the past three semesters, the J-School has moved aggressively to revive photojournalism 

by hiring two professors with significant visual communication interest 

and experience. Associate Professor Mike Williams returned to KU in Fall 2008 to assume 

the position of News and Information track chair and to teach interactive media. 

He earned his bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the J-School in 1979. 

Following a professional career as photographer and editor at several newspapers, 

he began his teaching career — teaching photojournalism — at the J-School in 1988. In 

the past decade he also has taught photography and multimedia journalism at several 

other major universities. 

Dr. Jerry Crawford joined the faculty as a visiting professor in 2008 and was hired 

as an assistant professor last spring. Crawford’s experience in broadcast journalism, 

particularly videography, will further the integration of still and moving imagery in the 

curriculum. 

The J-School also contracted with Bill Frakes, 1979 graduate, to teach the advanced 

photojournalism course this semester. Frakes, a staff photographer for Sports Illustrated 

and Time, Inc., has received some of the most prestigious recognition in the profession. 

He won the Newspaper Photographer of the Year, was a member of the Miami Herald 

staff that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of Hurricane Andrew, was honored by 

the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards for his reporting on the disadvantaged and 

by the Overseas Press Club for distinguished foreign reporting. He also received a Gold 

Medal award in the World Press Photo competition. 

Zoe Smith, professor emerita of photojournalism at the Missouri School of Journalism, 

was a visiting professor at the KU J-School this fall. She spoke to classes on the 

history of photography, ethics of visual communication and the impact of photography 

on society. She also worked with faculty and students on research projects involving 

the history and qualitative analysis of visual communication. In addition, she worked 

closely with Tom Volek, associate dean for graduate studies, on the devlopment of a 

doctoral program at the J-School. 

2 J-Links Winter 2009 

Beggars’ hands poke through a fence in search of handouts during the St. Gabriel 

Ethiopian Orthodox celebration in eastern Ethiopia. Photo by Jon Goering. 

(Photojournalism – continued on page 3)

(Photojournalism – continued from page 2) 

Photos of J-School students at work on class projects. 

Daniel Gebray swings outside of the Makele Boarding School for the Blind in northern 

Ethiopia. Proposed government policy change in Ethiopia may send blind students 

home fi ve years earlier. Photo by Jon Goering. 

As discussion of the general curriculum revision proceeds, 

the photo curriculum has already taken steps to move deeper 

into the realm of convergence. Students now produce final still 

photo projects as multimedia presentations with audio and prepared 

for Web delivery. This semester, the basic photo course 

will include instruction in video as well as still photography 

using the latest DSLR equipment capable of doing both formats 

in the same camera. 

The renewed emphasis on visual storytelling has resulted 

in excellent efforts by current photojournalism students. Last 

year, Jon Goering, senior, was the first KU student in several 

years to be honored in the Hearst Foundation Photojournalism 

competition for his work with subjects in Ethiopia. 

Senior forward Jamie Boyd jumps in celebration behind junior guard Katie Smith and 

Marija Zinic, junior forward after sophomore guard Danielle McCray draws a foul on a 

drive to the basket with 1.4 seconds remaining in the game. McCray stepped to the line 

and broke the 61-61 tie by hitting her fi rst free throw. Kansas defeated Nebraska 62-61 

and improved to 15-9 overall and 4-7 in the Big 12. Photo by Jon Goering. 

Sierha Berry turns to watch as Ryyan Kamal races uphill to fl y his kite while Kelly Kluthe 

fi nishes assembling her own. Berry, Kamal and Kluthe were joined by a friend, Jon 

Lane, and spent Labor Day 2009 in the park. The four friends had all just started their 

second years as KU students. Photo by J-School student Kelsey Hooker. 

Advanced videography students also expanded the scope 

of their work, producing a documentary about the Kansas Bureau 

of Investigation during its 70th anniversary year. It can be 

viewed online at: http://www.journalism.ku.edu/videos/kbi70th 

And with the assistance of 1955 graduate Rich Clarkson, 

KU photo students have, for the past several years, been invited 

to work with top professional photojournalists at the Summit 

Series of Photography Workshops held at Jackson Hole, Wyo. 

Visual communication remains a critical element in the 

media mix. The J-School considers photojournalism to be an 

element of communication all students should be familiar with, 

and intends to again make it possible for students to develop 

visual communication as their professional specialization if 

they choose. 

J-Links Winter 2009 3

Photos of Joel Zeff, 1990 graduate and national speaker, humorist and author, giving an interactive class presentation at the J-School. 

Students benefit from international study 

abroad photojournalism experiences 

A resident of Armagh, Northern Ireland, passes a wall with fresh graffi ti demanding 

freedom for all Irish POWs. Partisan tensions have continued to be evident across 

Northern Ireland in the decade since the signing of the Belfast accord, which was 

to bring peace to the country. Photograph by Susan Melgren, J’09. 

T 

o provide additional 

opportunities for 

journalism students to 

explore multimedia storytelling, 

Prof. Mike Williams 

directed a J-School 

sponsored study abroad 

program in Armagh, 

Northern Ireland, last 

summer. 

The Armagh program 

was a four-week 

course during which students 

from universities 

across the U.S. learned 

digital storytelling using 

text, photography, video 

and Web design techniques. 

Using off-the-shelf 

cameras, computers and 

software, the students 

produced a series of online 

documentaries about 


Political graffi ti continues to be frequently 

updated throughout Northern Ireland despite 

more than a decade since the Belfast peace 

accord. Photo by Susan Melgren, J’09. 

the local community. The Web site is at http://inarmagh.net. 

Studies in Irish culture and history complemented the journalism 

education. 

Williams also served as photojournalism and Web instructor 

in a similar program sponsored by Marquette University 

in Cagli, Italy, in the summer of 2009, as well as last 

June. 

Seasoned journalists optimistic for 

profession’s future 

By Kayla Regan, Wichita, Kan., senior 

E 

ach semester, the 

J-School brings in 

professionals-in-residence. 

Staying in touch 

with the professional 

world helps the J-School 

better prepare students 

for life after graduation. 

And John and Barbara 

Cochran, two of this semester’s 

professionals, 

said the J-School is doing 

a good job. 

“It seems like people 

here really get it,” 

Barbara Cochran, president 

emeritus of the 

Radio-Television News 

Directors, said. “That will stand the graduates really well 

when they’re out looking for jobs.” 

The husband and wife team recently spoke to students 

about issues facing journalism today. When John, senior 

Washington correspondent for ABC, began writing for television 

and radio news, he said his responsibilities were to 

write for those media alone. Now, with the increasing importance 

of multimedia journalism, he says he also writes for 

the Web site, which requires a different style of writing. 

“I’m an old dog who had to learn some new tricks,” John 

said. “People are going to have to be able to write for the ear 

as well as the eye.” 

Journalism also was going through a similar revolution 

when Barbara entered the profession, she said. Women and 

minorities were entering the field in record numbers and 

Watergate created a style of journalism that questioned authority. 

The difference between the revolution she took part 

in and the current revolution, she said, was today’s focus on 

telling a story in a variety of ways in a variety of platforms. 

“This generation is going to get to invent the journalism 

of the future, whatever that is,” Barbara said. “They’ll get 

to participate in that revolution, they’ll get to define what 

journalism and communications will be like in the future.” 

They both recognize the current economy and changing 

newspaper industry may make it difficult for journalists to 

find their dream jobs right away, but the Cochrans remain 

optimistic. 

“I still feel it’s a great field to go into for people who 

want to do something exciting, want to feel like they’re contributing 

and want to have a lot of fun while being paid for 

it,” John said.

Retired J-School professor Sam Adams (left photo, in center) visits the School. J-School graduates Mal Applegate, John Suhler and Ellyn Angelotti visit the School. 

KU J-School professor receives Budig 

Teaching Professorship of Writing 

C 

arol Holstead, associate professor at the J-School, is the 

recipient of the 2009-10 Budig Teaching Professorship of 

Writing, established by former KU Chancellor Gene Budig. 

As part of her award, Holstead will present a public address 

on the importance of teaching writing this spring. 

“Excellence in writing is critical to good journalism,” Ann 

Brill, dean of the School of Journalism, said. “Professor Holstead 

is very deserving of this honor, and we are looking forward 

to her lecture in the spring on the importance of good 

writing.” 

Holstead has taught at the J-School since 1990. She has led 

classes on reporting and editing, visual communication and 

ethics, along with various courses in magazine and publication 

writing, editing, design and production. She teaches the 

advanced media course for students who write for Jayplay, the 

University Daily Kansan’s weekly lifestyle magazine insert. 

“I am really honored to win this, but I’m just one in a long 

line of capable people who teach our students how to write,” 

Holstead said. “William Zinsser says he’s not sure writing can 

be taught, but he believes it can be learned, and I agree with 

that. People learn to write by doing and by thinking about 

what they’ve done and rewriting. Teachers can lead students 

to the trail head, but they can’t take the path for them.” 

In addition to teaching and conducting research, for many 

years Holstead has run the Association for Education in Journalism 

and Mass Communication Student Magazine Contest, 

which helps aspiring journalists become better writers and 

designers. She also operates a magazine internship placement 

program for KU journalism students and is the professional 

consultant to KU Giving, the university’s fundraising magazine. 

Before coming to KU, she was an editor at Vance Publishing 

Corp., in Overland Park, where she worked for magazines 

including Supermarket Floral, Produce and Floral Retailing, Fresh 

Produce and the Packer. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism 

and a master’s degree in theater, both from Kansas State 

University. 

Holstead’s former students, many who have gone on to 

become successful journalists and editors of national publications, 

may have said it best in their numerous letters of support 

submitted for her nomination for the award. 

“In New York City, I’ll often run into fellow Jayhawk journalists,” 

Marissa Stephenson, a 2005 KU graduate and editor at 

Shape magazine, said. “I think this is in large part due to Carol’s 

work placing students in NYC internships that led to crucial 

contacts and full-time positions.” 

John Rockhold, 2000 graduate and managing editor of 

Mother Earth News, said, “Carol has had a profound influence on 

my development as a writer and editor. Under her instruction, 

I grew from an ambitious but clueless student to a sharp, confident 

and capable job candidate. These days, I look first to Carol’s 

students for candidates for internships and full-time jobs.” 

In nominating Holstead for this award, journalism professor 

and 2007-08 Budig Teaching Professor of Writing recipient 

Ted Frederickson wrote, “I am thrilled to get Carol’s students 

in my classes because they always arrive with the unique skills 

that make magazine journalism so effective and interesting — 

stories alive with descriptive detail, written with an empathetic 

voice, based on serious fact-gathering and edited to hook readers 

and keep them reading to the end.” 

Budig was named KU’s 14th chancellor in 1981. During 

his 13-year tenure, more than 180 faculty positions were established. 

He was an active fundraiser during Campaign Kansas, 

the 1987-92 campaign that raised $265 million from private donors. 

Budig Hall is named in his honor. He left the University 

to become president of baseball’s American League and now 

is senior adviser to Major League Baseball. He also is the senior 

presidential adviser for the College Board and recently authored 

a book on the nine most interesting public people with 

whom he has worked. He and his wife, Gretchen, live in Isle of 

Palms, S.C. 

“We are very grateful to Dr. Budig for his generous support 

of the School of Journalism,” Brill said. “Throughout his distinguished 

career, Dr. Budig has been dedicated to excellence in 

education. We are very appreciative.” 


Photos from the “Bridging the Gap: A Military Experience for Journalists” workshop, hosted by the J-School and Fort Leavenworth, with a grant from the McCormick Foundation. 

Pulitzer Prize winner Leonard 

Pitts, Jr. to receive 2010 William 

Allen White national citation 

L 

eonard Pitts, Jr., 

the nationally 

syndicated, Pulitzer 

Prize winning columnist 

for the Miami 

Herald, was selected 

to receive the 2010 

William Allen White 

Foundation’s national 

citation. He will 

accept the citation 

and give a public address 

on William Allen 

White Day, at 1:30 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 5, 

in Woodruff Auditorium of the Kansas Union. 

The event is free and open to the public. 

Pitts joined the Miami Herald in 1991 as its 

pop music critic. Since 1994, he has penned a 

syndicated column of commentary on pop 

culture, social issues and family life. He has 

written professionally since 1976 when, as an 

18-year-old college student, he began doing 

freelance reviews and profiles for SOUL, a national 

black entertainment tabloid. He was its 

editor two years later. 

Pitts’ work has appeared in such publications 

as Musician, Spin, TV Guide, Reader’s Digest 

and Parenting. In addition, he wrote, produced 

and syndicated “Who We Are,” an award-winning 

1988 radio documentary on the history of 

Black America. 

Pitts was awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize 

for commentary and was a finalist in 1992. In 

1997, he took first place for commentary in the 

American Association of Sunday and Feature 

Editors’ Ninth Annual Writing Awards competition. 

He has been honored by the Society of 

Professional Journalists, the National Association 

of Black Journalists and the Simon Wiesenthal 

Center, and is a five-time recipient of the 

National Headliners Award. 

In 2001, he received the ASNE Award For 

Commentary Writing and was named Feature 

of the Year Columnist by Editor and Publisher 

magazine. In 2002, the National Society of 

Newspaper Columnists awarded Pitts its inaugural 

Columnist of the Year award and GLAAD 

Media awarded Pitts the Outstanding Newspaper 

Columnist award. 

Barnett tackles new role as associate dean 

By Kayla Regan, Wichita, Kan., senior 

W 

hether they had her as a teacher in J101 

or they listened to her give a guest lecture 

in one of their classes, most J-School students 

probably know who Prof. Barbara Barnett 

is. Now, as the J-School’s associate dean 

for undergraduate studies, she is working to 

make a positive impact on journalism students 

both outside and inside the classroom. 

She schedules classes, helps J-School Dean 

Ann Brill launch special programs, looks at 

admissions and does her own research, on 

top of it all. Here, Barnett answers questions 

about what this position means for her. 

Why did you want to be associate dean? “It was something I wanted 

to do in my career — to learn some new job skills. I enjoy teaching and 

doing research, so this was an opportunity to have a positive impact on 

the Journalism School in an administrative role, as well as in the classroom.” 

Can you describe the different roles you play now with your new 

position? “In my new job as associate dean, one of my roles is to plan our 

class schedules, so I’m trying to think about where classes will be, when 

they’ll be held, who will teach them and how many students will be enrolled. 

I’m also trying to think about details, such as whether we need to 

add a class because so many students are interested in the topic or cancel 

a class because we didn’t have enough student interest this semester. I 

also work with our admissions committee to help select students who 

are entering the J-School. I work with the dean on any special projects 

she might have — for instance, writing grants for special programs we 

might launch. Also, I teach one class, and I work on my own research 

projects. My areas of research interests are media, gender and violence. I 

still do a lot of work with Fort Leavenworth for our media and the military 

class and journalist workshop.” 

What are the greatest rewards and challenges of your work in the 

School? “The most fun part of my job always is working with students. 

The greatest challenge is trying to find time to do all the things I have to 

do in a day.” 

What do you hope to accomplish as the J-School’s associate dean? 

“One of the best things about working in a university is that you learn all 

the time. I learn something new every day from the students. I learn from 

preparing to teach and from the research I do. This new job is a chance 

to learn, too. I want to help make the Journalism School a great place for 

the students who come here and the faculty and staff who work here. 

Before I was a professor, I worked as a journalist and in public relations. I 

want to help students see that these can be fascinating jobs, that they can 

practice them with integrity, and that the work they do can make a real 

difference in people’s lives. Those are my main goals in this new job.” 

Are there any nice perks that came with your new position, like a 

better parking spot or nicer office? “Parking — nothing changed there. I 

did get a larger office, so that is good for meetings with faculty, students 

or other guests.” 

6 J-Links Winter 2009

ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES 

Where are they now? 

2009 

Cori Ast is the communications 

and event coordinator 

for the Robert J. Dole 

Institute of Politics at KU. 

Hali Baker is a management 

trainee for Uhlig Advanced 

Publishing Systems in 

Overland Park, Kan. 

Toni Bergquist is an 

interactive media consultant 

for the Wichita Eagle in 

Wichita, Kan. 

Rachel Burchfield is 

pursuing her master’s 

degree in higher education 

administration at The 

University of Mississippi. 

She also is a part-time 

graduate assistant for Ole 

Miss Greek Life. 

Kyle Carter is a product 

support specialist for Garmin 

International in Olathe, Kan. 

Abby Cunningham is a 

marketing assistant for the 

Newcomer Funeral Group in 

Topeka, Kan. 

Morgan Dreyer is an 

executive administrative 

assistant for Kim Schmidt/ 

Schmidt Design Group in 

Lawrence, Kan. 

Victoria Endersbe is an 

employment marketing 

coordinator at Ameriprise 

Financial Inc. in Minneapolis, 

Minn. 

Krista Fisher is a marketing 

specialist for KC SmartPort, 

Inc., in Kansas City, Mo. 

Andy Greenhaw works as a 

marketing coordinator/Web 

designer for Triad Media, 

Inc. in Parkville, Mo., which 

helps clients build, maintain 

and promote e-commerce 

Web sites. 

Kendra Hall is a media 

relations coordinator for 

Adventist Healthcare in 

Rockville, Md. She works 

to enhance video and social 

media capabilities for the 

company by shooting and 

editing video, managing and 

expanding social media 

sites, writing blogs and 

monthly newsletters. 

Christine Hartigan is a 

marketing coordinator for 

the KU Edwards Campus in 


Emily Hendricks is an intern 

at MS&L Worldwide in New 

York City. 

Rachel (Schulteis) Hodgson 

is the development and 

marketing coordinator for 

the Catholic Charities of 

Northeast Kansas. 

Steven Karlin teaches 

English in Nantes, France, 

for the French Embassy. 

Jackie Kostek teaches 

preschool for Teach for 

America in Washington, D.C. 

Kendall Matous works in 

advertising sales for Inspired 

Koncepts in Wichita, Kan. 

Photos from the “Bridging the Gap: A Military Experience for Journalists” workshop. 

Wendy McCart is an 

assignment editor at KAKE- 

TV in Wichita, Kan. 

Batya Meyer is account 

director and vice president 

of media for MCC 

Communication in Dallas, 

Texas. 

Courtney Montle is a 

producer for KMBC-TV in 

Kansas City, Mo. 

Luke Morris is a copy editor 

for The News & Advance in 

Lynchburg, Va. 

Andrew Newbauer is a 

security forces officer for the 

United States Air Force. 

Megan O’Malley is pursuing 

a graduate degree at 

Northwestern University 

in integrated marketing 

communications. 

Yelena Pavlik is a producer/ 

reporter for KSNT-TV in 

Topeka, Kan. 

Lauren Ponchur is an 

account executive for Village 

Voice Media in Kansas City, 

Mo. 

Joseph Preiner is an 

overnight producer/Web 

producer for the Lawrence 

Journal-World in Lawrence, 

Kan. 

Matthew Roberson is 

an account executive for 

Command Transportation in 


Kelly Rockey is an 

admissions assistant at 

Belmont University in 

Nashville, Tenn. 

Brian Schmid is a marketing 

coordinator for Eiko Ltd., 

a lighting manufacturer in 

Shawnee, Kan. 

Jessica Shannon is a firstyear 

KU Law student this 

semester. 

Cory Sims is an operations 

specialist at Cerner 

Corporation in Kansas City, 

Mo. 

Jesse Temple is a sports 

reporter for the Muncie 

Star Press. Temple worked 

for MLB.com this summer 

covering the Chicago White 

Sox. 

Lauren Tevis is a student 

at Washburn Law School in 

Topeka, Kan. 

Leah Thrasher is a marketing 

consultant for Sales Focus, 

Inc. in Overland Park, Kan. 

Sarah Waldschmidt is the 

emerging media coordinator 

for InTouch Solutions, a 

digital marketing company 

in Overland Park, Kan. 

Kristen Watkins works for 

Teach for America as a high 

school social studies teacher. 

Colin Weber is a technical 

writer for Herzog Communications 

in St. Joseph, Mo. 

Kimberly Westphall is a 

junior art director for Rapp, 

in Irving, Texas. 

(News & Notes – continued on page 9) 


Bob Basow meets with his class outside during summer classes; Dick Nelson and Sompoch Toruksa, deputy chief news editor for TV Ch. 7 in Bangkok, Thailand; 

Mike Swenson, executive vice president of Barkley, visits David Guth’s class; and offi cers from Fort Leavenworth talk to Basow’s students. 

CORRIE’S CORNER: News from Corrie Moore, KU Endowment 

Association Journalism Development Director 

Thanks to our Deans Club members 

s the holiday season is upon us, I can’t think of a better time to thank those donors who give back 

A to the School of Journalism. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a special group of 

contributors, our FY 2009 Deans Club (July 1, 2008 — June 30, 2009). 

Deans Club donors are those alumni and friends who contribute $1,000 or more annually to the 

J-School. State support for the University is a little more than 20 percent, so these gifts are crucial to 

our success and help us go above and beyond in the classroom. Deans Club contributions assist with 

scholarships, technology, travel for students and faculty, alumni events and so much more. 

Thank you, Deans Club, for your investment in higher education and outstanding loyalty to KU 

and the School of Journalism! 

We’d be honored to have your support at the Deans Club level for FY 2010! If you’d like to join, please complete and mail us 

the enclosed gift card. You also can contribute online at www.kuendowment.org/donate, or contact me at cmoore@kuendowment.org or 

785-832-7352. All the best for a happy and healthy holiday season! 

.......................... FY 2009 Deans Club (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009) .......................... 

Dean Club Ambassadors ($10,000 & above) 

Malcolm W. Applegate 

Marie S. Copeland* & Eugene H. Copeland* 

Elizabeth A. Leech & Steven C. Frazier 

John S. Suhler & Charlotte Thompson 

Suhler 

Helena L. Wooldridge* & Norris S. 

Wooldridge* 

Deans Club Benefactors ($5,000 - $9,999) 

Danforth W. Austin & Gail Davenport 

Austin 

Craig J. Campbell & Lisa M. Campbell 

David W. Guth 

Stan Hamilton 

Tracee J. Hamilton 

Michael C. Kirk & Julia Turtle Kirk 

Shelly J. London & Larry Kanter 

Craig A. Stock 

Joel D. Zeff 

Deans Club Patrons ($3,000 - $4,999) 

Ann M. Brill, PhD & Larry J. Schmitz* 

Bonnie M. Dunham & Jon W. Dunham 

Terry K. Shockley & Sandra K. Shockley 

Lori F. Simmons & Chad J. Simmons 

Deans Club Members ($1,000 - $2,999) 

Leonard P. Alfano & Deborah Taylor 

Alfano 

Robert R. Basow & Lynn A. Basow 

Thomas C. Bolitho 

Brian A. Bracco & Sarah Wallace Bracco 

Del Brinkman & Carolyn Brinkman 

Dinah Swinehart Brock & Barry Brock 

Marc A. Buehler & Ashley E. Buehler 

Douglas E. Campbell, PhD & Patricia D. 

Campbell 

Richard W. Casselman 

Richard C. Clarkson 

Katherine Ruddy DeBruce & Paul E. 

DeBruce 

Stephen R. Ellsworth & Barbara Ellsworth 

Michael J. Fitzgerald & Susan Fitzgerald 

John A. Frazee 

Ralph D. Gage Jr. & Martha S. Gage, PhD 

Alison M. Gwinn 

Kevin R. Harlan & Ann Latimer Harlan 

Braden Hopkins & Ashley P. Hopkins 

Charlotte Kirk Howard & W. Jeffrey 

Howard 

Donald A. Hunter 

Michael E. Jerrick 

Linda S. Lee 

Thomas Lusty 

Norman G. Magnuson Jr. & Daphne 

Polatty Magnuson 

Cynthia L. Maude 

Janet M. Miller 

Corrie A. Moore 

Carole Jackson Moreno 

Max L. Moxley 

Darell F. Norris & Thordis M. Norris 

Marilyn Hayes O’Connell 

David F. Olson & Bobbi J. Olson 

Carrie Patton Laaker & Micah D. Laaker 

Marilyn Zook Petterson & Michael T. 

Petterson 

John E. Picchietti 

Sally L. Reece 

Penny L. Reiss 

Kathleen A. Saunders & Ronald K. 

Saunders 

Judith M. Seiler 

Susanne M. Shaw 

Calvert W. Simmons 

Dolph C. Simons, Jr. & Pamela C. Simons 

Frank Slover 

H.F. Cotton Smith & Sonya S. Smith 

Heather M. Smith 

Michael G. Snider 

Terri Hill Snyder & Steven A. Snyder 

Susan R. Stark 

Linda Sullivan & Dr. Jerry Leonard 

Sullivan 

Keith Swinehart Sr. 

W. Keith Swinehart II 

Kalpana Trivadi 

Saroj Trivadi 

Lisa Smith Vogl & Eric G. Vogl 

Lee F. Young 

Deans Club Corporate Members 

Callahan Creek 

William Randolph Hearst Foundation 

Kirk Foundation 

McCormick Foundation 

*Indicates the donor is deceased. 



(News & Notes – continued from page 7) 

Brea Ziegler works in 

marketing and strategic 

communications for 

Marche Design, a product 

development company in 

Lawrence, Kan. 

2008 

Karen Blakeman is an editor 

for the U.S. Department 

of the Army at Fort 

Leavenworth, Kan. 

Brian Brewer is a financial 

advisor/portfolio analyst 

for the Prosperity Advisory 

Group in Overland Park, 

Kan. 

Sean Craven is a broker 

associate for RED Brokerage, 

LLC in Kansas City, Mo. 

Mallory Gaunce is an 

account coordinator for 

MMG Worldwide. She 

started working at the 

Kansas City advertising 

agency in January. 

Amanda Hallier is the 

public relations manager for 

Spofford, a children’s nonprofit 

organization in Kansas 

City, Mo. 

Megan Hirt is an assistant 

editor at Mother Earth 

News magazine, an Ogden 

Publication, in Topeka, Kan. 

Brittany Jeter is a territory 

sales associate for Specialty 

Medical Services in Kansas 

City, Mo. 

Etienne Laubignat works 

in sales for Shaw Industries, 

Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway 

company in Dalton, Ga. 

Sarah Neff is a technical 

writer for Keys for 

Networking in Topeka, Kan. 

Sarah Nelson is an account 

coordinator for Two West, 

Inc., in Kansas City, Mo. 

Scott Oswalt is a graphic 

designer at the Hutchinson 

News in Hutchinson, Kan. 

Katherine Pitt works for 

Northwestern University 

handling communications 

and outreach for the 

Argonne-Northwestern 

Solar Energy Research 

Center. The center is one of 

22 energy frontier research 

centers funded by the U.S. 

Department of Energy 

dedicated to advancing solar 

energy fuel opportunities. 

Previously she was the metro 

account executive for the 

Arizona Republic. 

Chris Raine is a copy editor 

at Energy Intelligence 

Group, a publisher of energy 

industry newsletters, in New 

York City. 

Daniel Reyes is an 

admissions representative 

at Garden City Community 

College in Garden City, Kan. 

Matthew Roberson is 

an account executive for 

Command Transportation in 


Mary Schuring works in 

communications and public 

affairs for TD Ameritrade 

in Omaha, Neb. She has 

worked there since January. 

Thomas Seymour is an 

executive team leader of 

logistics for the Target in 

Edwardsville, Ind. 

Hanna Soltys is a marketing 

associate for Joel Warady 

Group in Evanston, Ill. 

Previously she was a 

copywriter in Phoenix, Ariz. 

Jessica Stelzer is a program 

assistant in the learning and 

organization development 

division of human resources 

at Northwestern University 

in Evanston, Ill. 

Meghan Sullivan is an 

interactive project 

coordinator at MMG Worldwide 

in Kansas City, Mo. 

Lauren Tevis was accepted 

into the Washburn School of 

Law in Topeka, Kan. 

Amanda Wright is an 

associate at ISNetworld, 

a petrochemical/ 

manufacturing/biopharma 

and health and safety 

company in Dallas, Texas. 

2007 

Andie Belfry was promoted 

to senior account executive 

at Padilla Speer Beardsley, 

a national marketing and 

public relations agency in 

Minneapolis, Minn. 

Karen Bentley is a research 

analyst for the Polling Co. in 

Washington, D.C. 

Alissa Christensen is 

an account executive at 

Kforce in Dallas, Texas. She 

specializes in finance and 

Photos from a reception for the J-School’s direct admit students. 

accounting staffing and 

recruiting. 

Courtney Hagen is in 

graduate school at the 

University of Edinburgh in 

Scotland learning Arabic and 

researching new media in 

the Arab world. She spent 

last summer working for the 

press desk of the Edinburgh 

International Film Festival as 

an editorial assistant for the 

University of Edinburgh’s 

College of Humanities and 

Social Sciences, and writing 

about Arab portrayals in 

American cinema. She will 

live in the Middle East next 

summer as a component of 

the research program. 

Kyle Hoedl is the digital 

insights planner/social 

media analyst for VML in 


Mark Vierthaler is the 

managing editor of the Dodge 

City Daily Globe in Dodge 

City, Kan. 

2006 

Daniel Berk is a sports editor 

for the Arizona Daily Sun in 

Flagstaff, Ariz. His previous 

position at the Sun was sports 

reporter, which he had held 

since October 2007. 

Sarah Connelly works in 

real estate advertising for the 

Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. 

She was just admitted to the 

Mason School of Business at 

The College of William and 

Mary where she will pursue 

an MBA. 




Photos from J-School curriculum revision discussions, including a session with Brian Bracco, senior vice 

president for news for Hearst-Argyle Television, and a faculty workshop featuring a panel of professionals. 

Eric Morgenstern: an ever-rising star in 

the public relations world 

By Sonya English, Overland Park, Kan., senior 

hirty years ago, an undergraduate Eric Morgenstern read 

T a note scribbled in his portfolio that advised: “Eric, please 

go into PR. You can’t write a straight news story to save your 

life. Every story has a positive slant to it.” 

Though that fact remains, a few things were different then: 

A portfolio was called a string book and convergence was a new 

idea that Morgenstern was working out in his mind. 

“I knew in high school that I wanted to work in the space 

where all of these disciplines (news, public relations, advertising) 

come together,” Morgenstern said. “Everything was kind of 

in different buckets...and I knew that that made no sense; 

that the audiences look at an organization from an integrated 

standpoint.” 

His professor, Rick Musser, who retired in 2008, had him 

pegged. He now runs a successful business helping companies 

tell their stories. He started Morningstar Communications, 

based in Overland Park, Kan., in 1997. He refers to himself and 

his colleagues as “strategic integrated counselors” because, he 

said, they are more like a consulting firm than a PR firm. 

“We are experts at helping a company figure out how to 

tell their story in a compelling, concise and audience-focused 

manner,” he said. 

He is, in other words, doing exactly what he thought he’d 

do. “I’m an anomaly in the sense that I went to KU to do what 

I’m doing,” he said. “I put the four-year plan in place and I did 

it and graduated.” 

Morgenstern’s inclination to make plans in the long-term 

(he met his wife when he was 15) has been useful in an industry 

where people more often think in 20-minute increments. 

“I think we should all go through life with what I refer to as 

bifocal vision,” he said. “Keep our eye on the horizon and watch 

each next step.” 

That’s what people close to Morgenstern call an “Ericism.” 

They’re brief life philosophies that he recites often. Some are his 

own and others are pieces of wisdom he’s borrowed from the likes 

of Mark Twain and Plato. He said he has dozens on reserve. 

“I will use these kinds of philosophies as a way to make a 

point, as a guiding principle and as a teaching tool,” he said. 

“Those ‘isms’ are rampant in our world here.” 

A former coworker, Bob Featherston, said in a video tribute 

to Morgenstern that Ericisms still “ring in his head from time 

to time.” Now an entrepreneur himself, Featherston said he 

often hears himself give Morgenstern’s advice to his own 

employees. 


The Kansas City chapter of the International Association 

of Business Communicators made the video this year when 

Morgenstern won its highest honor, which recognizes excellence, 

achievement and civic involvement. 

The successes that Morgenstern and his company have 

enjoyed lead many to ask him whether he wished he’d have 

started it sooner. During the 20-year interim after school and 

before Morningstar, he worked for several companies and in 

different communications positions, starting at an architecture 

firm creating business materials and including a five-year tenure 

at Hallmark Cards. It was during that time that Morgenstern 

acquired the business philosophies behind Morningstar. 

“I waited until I felt like I had received a ‘doctorate’ 

degree in how to run an agency before founding Morningstar 

Communications,” he said. “I ran a big agency for a long time and 

got to learn from a lot of mistakes before founding our firm.” 

It was in the J-School that he developed an appreciation of 

each and every word. He credits the editing class he took from 

John Bremner, former professor and namesake of the J-School’s 

Bremner Editing Center. 

“The discipline of precise word choice has stuck with me 

forever,” Morgenstern said. 

(Morgenstern – continued on page 11)


(Morgenstern – continued from page 10) 

“He’d be the first to say don’t use a 

quarter word if a nickel word will work,” 

Morgenstern said. 

For the 31 years since he took classes 

in the J-School, he has remained connected 

to it. It’s not just through the Jayhawk 

paraphernalia that fills his basement, or 

his son Jarrod, who recently attended the 

J-School. 

Morgenstern was the featured speaker at 

the J-School’s fall graduate recogniton event 

on Dec. 13. He also visits often as a guest 

lecturer and Morningstar materials are used 

as examples throughout the textbook “Public 

Relations: A Values-Driven Approach,” 

co-authored by J-School professors 

Chuck Marsh and David Guth. 

Guth first met Morgenstern about 15 

years ago when he invited him to speak 

to his class. He said Morgenstern helps 

students understand PR — that it’s more 

than glad-handling and press releases. 

“Most students instinctively know what 

reporting is and what advertising is, but 

they…have only a nebulous idea of what 

PR is,” Guth said. “He is good at breathing 

that life into PR. He has a great enthusiasm 

for what he does and he likes to share that 

enthusiasm and passion with students.” 

In 1997, he also helped create the 

J-School’s master’s program in integrated 

marketing communications at the KU 

Edwards campus. 

And the J-School comes to him as well. 

Many of Morningstar’s interns are J-School 

students who often become employees. 

“The people that I get from KU are 

outstanding,” Morgenstern said. “Thirty 

years later, the School is still turning 

out people that meet our standards of 

excellence.” 

And to those graduated from the 

J-School he offers the same advice he’d give 

to anyone, in any discipline. 

“I think it’s important that people 

recognize what they’re great at and what 

they love to do,” he said. “If you can combine 

what you’re great at and what you love to do 

you’ll be successful in any endeavor.” 

J-School professors in action: Simran Sethi, Crystal Lumpkins, Mike Williams and Chuck Marsh. 


Lisa (Tevis) Fulbright was promoted 

to business development 

manager within the marketing 

department of Capitol Federal 

Savings Bank in Topeka, Kan. 

Colleen Grosch manages member 

engagement for the National 

Society of Collegiate Scholars in 

Washington, D.C. 

Haley Harrison is a 6 and 11 

p.m. anchor for WHSV-TV in 

Harrisonburg, Va. 

Lara Kindle is a marketing 

coordinator for Management 

Dynamics, Inc. in Rockville, Md. 

Derek Klaus manages 

communications for the Kansas 

City Convention and Visitors 

Association. 

Malinda (Osborne) Larkin is a 

news reporter for the American 

Veterinary Medical Association. 

Hailey Metzger is the marketing 

coordinator at Team Housing 

Solutions in New Braunfels, Texas. 

Adam Sechrist moved from 

KAKE-TV in Wichita, Kan., to 

KDVR-TV in Denver, Colo., 

where he will produce the 9 p.m. 

newscast. 

2005 

Sandra Barry is a midday news 

producer at KVUE-TV in Austin, 

Texas. 

Peter Granitz is reporting on 

Congress for NPR member 

stations with Public Radio 

International and Capitol News 

Connection. He also writes 

freelance pieces on poverty and 

local Washington, D.C., issues. 

Beth Martino is the communications 

director and press secretary 

for Kansas Governor Mark 

Parkinson. 

Kellis Robinett has joined the 

Wichita Eagle in Wichita, Kan., on 

the sports staff and serves as the 

Kansas State beat writer for both 

the Eagle and the Kansas City Star. 

Previously Robinett worked for the 

Omaha World-Herald and the Idaho 

State Journal. 

Jessica Solander is a regulatory 

specialist for Embarq Logistics. 

Amy Sullivan is an event 

coordinator for Paula LeDuc Fine 

Catering (www.paulaleduc.com) in 

San Francisco, Calif. She represents 

venues in wine country and the 

San Francisco Ferry Building. 

Anja Winikka is the editor 

of TheKnot.com and The Knot 

Weddings Magazine in New York. 

She is heavily involved in public 

relations, frequently making local 

and national TV appearances on 

behalf of The Knot. This summer 

she hosted a Webisode series, 

“Married on MySpace”(www. 

myspace.com/marriedonmyspace). 

She has been editor at The Knot 

for a year, working there since 

graduation, making her way up 

from the copy edit desk. 

Paige Worthy is managing 

editor of three horticultural trade 

publications in Chicago, Ill.: Lawn 

& Garden Retailer, Greenhouse 

Product News and its supplement, 

Big Grower. She writes, edits, 

assigns, provides design ideas and 

travels as the face of the company 

(www.lgrmag.com). 





2004 

Carlos Centeno is a program 

officer for the United Nations 

World Food Program in 

Guatemala, and is a Mickey 

Leland International Hunger 

Fellow (2009-2011) for the 

Congressional Hunger 

Center. 

Kristin Glover is a freelance 

producer for KABC-TV in 

Los Angeles, Calif. 

Meghan Snyder-Gordon 

is the assignment editor at 

KWCH-TV in Wichita, Kan. 

Emily Melnyk is a 

marketing coordinator at the 

law firm Polsinelli Shughart 

PC in Kansas City. 

Amanda Wolfe is the 

managing editor at 

Advanstar Veterinary 

Healthcare Communications. 

Joel Worthington is a senior 

analyst with Sg2, a healthcare 

intelligence company in 

Skokie, Ill. 

Jessica (Chapman) Zemler 

was promoted to editor 

of E-Media at Advanstar 

Communications in Lenexa, 

Kan. She was recently 

awarded the 2009 Young 

Leaders Scholarship from the 

American Society of Business 

Publication Editors. 

2003 

Laine Baker is an anchor/ 

reporter for KNWA-TV in 

Fayetteville, Ark. 


Brooke Hesler and her 

husband Kyle Ramsey (2002 

J-School graduate) have both 

been admitted to the Kansas 

bar. They graduated from 

Washburn Law School after 

working in journalism for a 

few years. 

Emilee (Hermreck) Katzer 

is a senior consultant at 

Pennington & Co. 

Chris Martin won an Emmy 

award for outstanding 

special effects work on the 

television series “Heroes.” 

In addition to working on 

“Heroes,” he has worked 

on several other top TV 

shows, including “24,” 

Grey’s Anatomy” and “The 

Office.” At KU, he created 

two informational videos for 

the KU Libraries, “Library: 

Revolutions” and “Lord 

of the Libraries,” spoofing 

“The Matrix” and “Lord of 

the Rings.” He served as an 

officer in KU Filmworks, 

the student-run production 

club sponsored by the 

Department of Film, and 

produced a television series 

on KUJH-TV that screened 

local films. 

Kristel K. Patton owns and 

operates Kristel K. Patton, 

P.C., a full-service estate 

planning law firm located 

in Chandler, Ariz. She is 

licensed to practice law 

in Arizona, Arkansas and 

Missouri. 

Jana (Smoot) White practices 

law with Fowler Measle & 

Bell in Lexington, Ky. 

Photos from a new student orientation for J-School graduate students. 

2002 

Matthew Bertholf manages 

channel marketing for 

Assurant Employee Benefits. 

Summer (Lewis) Henry 

owns Life Simplified, 

a lifestyle organization 

business, in Kansas City. 

Michelle Sherwood is the 10 

p.m. anchor at KSPR-TV in 

Springfield, Mo. Previously 

she was the weekend anchor. 

Neil Sniffen teaches 

journalism and English at 

Grants Pass High School in 

Grants Pass, Ore. 

2001 

Stephen Adams is president 

of Adams Land in Tulsa, 

Okla. 

Helen Lauen recently joined 

Risdall Marketing Group in 

New Brighton, Minn., as the 

strategic planning director. 

2000 

Courtney (Kreutzer) 

Payne is a medical sales 

representative for Meda 

Pharmaceuticals in Dallas, 

Texas. 

Vanessa Whiteside is a 

journalism and English 

teacher at Circle High School 

in Towanda, Kan. 

1998 

Brett Clifton is the assistant 

director of advancement 

and alumni relations 

for the Department of 

Aerospace Engineering at 

the University of Illinois 

in Urbana-Champaign, Ill. 

He does fundraising and 

alumni relations, including 

personal visits with alumni 

throughout the country. 

Jennifer Conklin is the 

Bradenton Herald’s day 

and presentation editor in 

Bradenton, Fla. She joined the 

Herald in 2004 after stints at 

the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer 

and the (Columbia, S.C.) 

State. She is a member of the 

Asian American Journalists 

Association and a graduate 

of both the 2005 Maynard 

Media Academy at Harvard 

and the 2003 Executive 

Leadership Program, the 

latter two honors in the 

media world. 

Zachary Morin is a territory 

sales manager for SAP 

America. 

Matt Tidwell, APR, 

has joined Morningstar 

Communication in Overland 

Park, Kan., as vice president. 

He has a wide array of 

both corporate and agency 

experience across a variety 

of industries, including 

telecommunications, 

healthcare, energy, 

manufacturing and sports 

marketing. He earned 

a master’s degree from 

Syracuse University and has 

served on the adjunct faculty 

at both UMKC’s Bloch School 

of Business and Washburn 

University. 

1997 

Peg Coughlin is the 

Associated Press regional 

elections coordinator. 

(News & Notes – continued on page 13)



David Day is the executive 

editor and director of 

product development with 

Thinking Bigger Business 

Media Inc. in Kansas City, 

Mo. 

Rebecca (Wick) Hengehold 

directs communications and 

group marketing at Marston 

in Ballwin, Mo. 

1996 

Bethany Pendleton is a 

business development 

consultant for Thomson 

Reuters. 

Aaron Sumner coordinates 

projects for KU’s Center for 

Research on Learning. He 

lives in Lawrence, Kan. 

1994 

Marlene Neill had a 

public relations teaching 

assistantship at the 

University of Texas this fall. 

She will be pursuing her 

doctorate and will continue 

teaching at Baylor University. 

Elaine (Barkley) Toto 

coordinates marketing for 

Arrow Truck Sales in Kansas 

City, Mo. 

1993 

Julie Denesha is a 

professional photojournalist. 

Her latest project “Roma: In 

the Eyes of a Woman” was 

on display at the World Bank 

Office to the European Union 

Institutions in Brussels, 

Belgium. She was based in 

Prague from 1996 to 2004, 

where she worked as a 

documentary photographer. 

Her work has appeared 

in The New York Times, The 

Guardian, Time, Newsweek, 

The Economist and The 

Christian Science Monitor. Her 

project on the Roma has been 

exhibited around the world. 

In 2007 she was awarded a 

Milena Jesenka fellowship, 

as well as a Fulbright, to 

continue working on her 

Roma project in Slovakia. 

Her work also has received 

funding from the ArtsKC 

Fun and the Puffin 

Foundation. Her work on 

the Roma people, “Outcasts 

of Europe,” was on exhibit 

in the J-School’s second 

floor photography gallery in 

spring 2007. For more, visit 

www.juliedenesha.com. 

1992 

Shawna Rosen is a technical 

writer for Apple Inc. in 

Cupertino, Calif. 

Sousa Williams oversees 

the Web team at KEYE-TV 

(CBS) in Austin, Texas. She 

was formerly a TV news 

producer. 

1991 

Linda Meierhoffer is a 

contributing writer for 

two Palm Springs, Calif., 

magazines, Palm Springs Life 

and the Desert Magazine. Her 

work includes features on 

architecture, lifestyles and 

healthcare. She is a resident 

of Leawood, Kan., and Palm 

Springs. 

Photos from a new student orientation for J-School graduate students. 

Jennifer Remsberg 

supervises accounts for 

Bernstein-Rein in Kansas 

City, Mo. 

Ann Sommerlath is the 

senior vice president of 

Fleishman-Hillard in New 

York City. 

William Bryan Swan works 

for UniCare Health Plan of 

Kansas in Topeka, Kan. 

1990 

Barbara Kollmeyer is a 

financial journalist for CBS 

Marketwatch in Madrid, 

Spain. 

1989 

Jenny (Byrd) Skillman 

works as managing director 

of KINETIK in Washington, 

D.C. 

1988 

Jerry Karasek is a surgery 

administrator at Kansas 

University Physicians, Inc. 

Darren Richards is now a 

vice president of Tucker/ 

Hall, a major public 

relations firm in Tampa/ 

St. Petersburg, Fla. He left 

Gannett’s WTSP-TV, the 

CBS affiliate in Tampa/St. 

Petersburg, after four years 

as news director there. He 

spent almost his entire career 

with Gannett, including a 

seven-year stint as news 

director of the company’s 

WFMY-TV station in 

Greensboro, N.C. He also 

held news management 

positions with Gannett 

stations in Jacksonville, 

Denver and Phoenix. He also 

has worked in Ft. Myers, Fla., 

and Topeka, Kan. 

1987 

Jill (Hanslip) Miller is 

president of Digital Sinage 

Group in Poulsbro, Wash. 

1986 

John Egan manages accounts 

for Elizabeth Christian & 

Associates, a public relations 

firm in Austin, Texas. 

John Heeney is principal 

of Echelon Management in 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Brett McCabe manages 

customer service sales for 

Leer in New Lisbon, Wis. 

1985 

David Danner works for 

Keystone Freight Corp in 

Greensboro, N.C. 

John Reimringer has written 

his first novel, “Vestments,” 

which will be published by 

Milkweed Editions in Fall 

2010. He is a 2009 Loft- 

McKnight fellow and a 

college English instructor in 


1984 

Charlotte (Burriss) Cool 

works for McCormick Co. in 


Brian Levinson is vice 

president of marketing and 

public affairs for Nueterra 

Healthcare in Leawood, Kan. 




KU hosted 75 high school students from the Reviving Baseball in the Inner City (RBI) program in Kansas City, 

Mo., for a College Day. Students heard from KU and J-School speakers, as well as professional athletes. 


1983 

Blake Gumprecht is an 

associate professor and 

the chair of geography 

at the University of New 

Hampshire, and the author 

of “The American College 

Town.” His unprecedented 

research on the topic 

of college towns was 

inspired by the time he 

spent in Lawrence as an 

undergraduate at KU. 

1982 

Barbara Bichelmeyer 

was named associate vice 

president for academic 

planning at Indiana 

University in Bloomington. 

In addition to her journalism 

degree, she holds a bachelor 

of arts, a master of science 

in education and a PhD, all 

from KU. 

Chris Cobler is the editor of 

the Victoria (Texas) Advocate. 

He was recently honored by 

the Texas Daily Newspaper 

Association with its Editorial 

Achievement Award, which 

was created to recognize 

courage and commitment 

to the newsroom and 

leadership in the community, 

in advocating and pursuing 

openness and accessibility 

to government. He also 

was recently elected to the 

Freedom of Information 

Foundation of Texas board of 

directors. 

Janet Murguía has joined 

five other Jayhawks on a list 

of the 100 most powerful 

women in Washington, D.C., 

according to Washingtonian 

magazine. The magazine has 

compiled an annual list for 

27 years to recognize women 

leaders in Washington from 

the public, private and 

nonprofit sectors. Other 

honorees this year include 

First Lady Michelle Obama 

and House Speaker Nancy 

Pelosi. Murguía is president 

of the National Council of 

La Raza, the largest national 

Hispanic civil rights and 

advocacy organization in 

the U.S. She previously 

worked at the White House 

from 1994 to 2000 as a top 

aide to President Clinton. 

After serving as a deputy 

campaign manager for 

the 2000 Gore-Lieberman 

presidential campaign, she 

was executive vice chancellor 

for university relations 

at KU for four years. She 

earned a law degree in 1985 

and bachelor’s degrees in 

journalism and Spanish in 

1982 from KU. 

1981 

Kelly Irvin is the public 

relations manager for the 

San Antonio Parks and 

Recreation Department. 

Her debut romantic 

suspense novel, “A Deadly 

Wilderness,” will be 

published in January 2010. 

Jeff Sjerven is the news 

editor at the Finance and 

Commerce Media Group in 


1980 

Samuel Johnson is president 

and chief executive officer of 

DRSTJ3 Consulting Group in 

Tinton Falls, N.J. 

Paul Witwer is a certified 

financial planner for Bell 

Investment Advisors in 

Oakland, Calif. 

1979 

Mark Olson is chief 

executive officer of LTO 

Ventures in Henderson, Nev. 

1978 

Rob Rains, former Cardinals 

beat writer, was named 

sports editor and baseball 

writer for the St. Louis Globe- 

Democrat, an online-only 

newspaper. He is the author 

of several books, including 

his most recent books, 

“James Naismith: The Man 

Who Invented Basketball” 

and “Tony La Russa: Man on 

a Mission.” 

Julie Johnson Staples 

recently opened J. Johnson 

Staples & Company in 

New York City to provide 

specialized strategic 

communication services. 

1977 

Bonita Gooch owns TCV 

Publishing Inc., which 

publishes the Community 

Voice, a tabloid printed twice 

a month that serves Wichita’s 

African-American audience. 

She previously worked in 

public administration in 

Texas and Florida before 

moving back to Wichita, 

Kan., in 1996. 

1976 

Michael Aurbach is a 

professor of art at Vanderbilt 

University. A solo exhibit 

of his sculptures will be on 

display at the Wichita Art 

Museum June 13-Oct. 17, 

2010. 

David Croake is editorial 

director for Florists’ Review 

Enterprises in Topeka, Kan. 

Bruce Erickson is the 

director of communications 

at Sam Houston State 

University. He is a former 

associate vice president for 

university communications 

and marketing at California 

State University, Fullerton, 

a former executive 

director for marketing and 

communications at Wichita 

State University, a former 

director of public relations at 

California State University, 

Northridge, and a former 

director of university 

relations at The University 

of Texas-Pan American. He 

is the recipient of numerous 

awards from the Council 

for the Advancement and 

Support of Education. He 

was awarded the Public 

Communicators of Los 

Angeles’ inaugural Most 

Valuable Professional Award 

for his work and visibility as 

California State Northridge’s 

spokesperson following the 

Northridge earthquake in 

1994. 





Louise Henry is the 

principal/president of 

PRISM Advantage, a public 

relations and innovative 

strategic marketing agency in 

Addison, Texas. 

1974 

Lydia Beebe received the 

Distinguished Alumnus 

Award from the KU School 

of Law. She lives in San 

Francisco, Calif., where 

she works for Chevron. 

She serves on the KU Law 

Alumni Board of Governors. 

David Hunke is the 

president and publisher 

of Gannett’s USA Today. 

Previously he was CEO of the 

Detroit Media Partnership 

and publisher of The Detroit 

Free Press. 

Mike Jerrick cohosts a daily 

morning show called “Good 

Day Philadelphia” on Fox29. 

He was formerly a cohost of 

“The Morning Show With 

Mike and Juliet,” which aired 

on Fox television stations 

around the country from a 

New York City base. 

Bob Marcotte has been the 

“Just Ask” columnist for 

the Democrat and Chronicle 

in Rochester, NY, for more 

than a decade. He went to 

Rochester in 1976, working 

first as a beat reporter, 

editorial writer and layout 

editor for the Times-Union, 

then as layout editor for the 

Democrat and Chronicle. He 

is the author of two books, 

“Where They Fell,” which 

tells the story of Rochester 

area soldiers during the 

Civil War, and “Birds of the 

Genesee,” which looks at the 

diversity of wild birds in the 

region. 

1973 

Kathleen (Swiderski) 

Saunders is vice president 

and general manager of 

KDFW Fox 4 in Dallas, Texas. 

1972 

Bion Beebe owns Precision 

Tune Auto in Eagan, Minn. 

Rita (Haugh) Oates is vice 

president of education for 

ePals Inc. She lives in Coral 

Gables, Fla. 

1970 

Sam Cook has been covering 

the outdoors for the Duluth 

News Tribune for nearly 30 

years. He has authored six 

books and won multiple 

awards for his writing. 

Sandra Smith owns Smith 

Communications and is a 

senior lecturer at the University 

of Minnesota’s Carlson 

School of Management. 

1969 

John Krueger retired in 

2006 after working 36 years 

in education, during which 

time he taught journalism 

and English, was an assistant 

principal and principal in 

a junior high school and a 

senior high school principal 

in both the Shawnee Mission 

and North Kansas City, Mo., 

school districts. 

Photos from this summer’s Kansas Journalism Institute for high school students. 

Journalism Job 

Listing Service 

The Journalism Career Center 

provides an online listing of jobs in 

the journalism fi eld that require at least 

two years of experience. The job listings 

and descriptions are posted on the J-School’s Web site, 

www.journalism.ku.edu, under “Alumni & Friends.” This service 

is for jobs that require two-four, three-fi ve, fi ve-seven and 10 or 

more years of experience. We hear about such positions on a 

regular basis and immediately post the jobs online. If you know 

of relevant job openings that should be listed, please e-mail 

Patty Noland, journalism career development coordinator, at 

pnoland@ku.edu. 

1968 

Bob Dotson won two 

Murrow Awards for Best 

Writing and Best News Series 

for NBC’s “American Story 

with Bob Dotson.” The show 

has won the Murrow for Best 

Writing three years in a row, 

and a total of five times since 

the award began in 1999. In 

the past decade, Dotson has 

won half of all the Murrows 

handed out for writing. 

Murrow Award recipients 

demonstrate the excellence 

that Edward R. Murrow 

made a standard for the 

electronic news profession. 

NBC News was honored 

with five 2009 Edward R. 

Murrow Awards, more than 

any other television network. 

1962 

Cotton Smith published his 

15th Western novel, “Death 

Mask,” with Dorchester 

Publishing. His fifth 

audiobook, “Return of 

the Spirit Rider,” has been 

released by Recorded Books. 

He lives in Mission Hills, 

Kan. 

1949 

Patricia (James) Baker is 

currently at work composing 

hymns, both words and 

music. Her latest project is 

a cantata for choral singing 

entitled, “Glad Tidings of 

Christmas.” 

1948 

Allan and Marian Cromley 

are former University Daily 

Kansan editors and have 

been married 60 years. Allan 

writes news and profiles for 

a community newsletter. 

Marian is on the advisory 

committee of the Ethics and 

Excellence in Journalism 

Foundation, based in 

Oklahoma City, Okla. 


Non-profi t 

Organization 

US Postage Paid 

Permit #116 

Lawrence, KS 

Send us Your News 

Please mail or e-mail your update to Jennifer Kinnard at jkinnard@ku.edu. 

NAME: 

ADDRESS: 

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current address 

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J-Links is a publication for the alumni 

and friends of the University of Kansas 

William Allen White School of Journalism 

and Mass Communications. 

Editor 

Jennifer Kinnard, Communications Coordinator 

jkinnard@ku.edu, 785-864-7644 

CAREER UPDATE: 

(Include company 

name and city) 

Student Communication Assistants 

Sonya English, senior, Overland Park, Kan. 

Kayla Regan, senior, Wichita, Kan. 

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Financial support provided by 

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The School of Journalism acknowledges, with 

gratitude, the generous support provided by 

the Ward family. 

For more information 

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