June 29, 2023
David Kurpius, dean of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, was recently named the Scripps Howard-AEJMC Administrator of the Year Award, which recognizes a single journalism and communication administrator nationwide who has demonstrated excellent leadership.
“I’m honored and humbled by this recognition,” Kurpius said. “None of the things we have accomplished in these eight years would have been possible without the hard work of our world-class faculty and staff and the alumni, friends and industry leaders who continue to support our mission.”
Kurpius joined the school in 2015, pairing a focus on strategic innovation and growth with the school’s famed Missouri Method of hands-on learning. During his time as dean, the school has raised more than $80 million to fund faculty fellowships and student scholarships, expand local journalism, and innovate in the realm of strategic communication, among other initiatives.
At the same time, he has significantly increased the representation of diverse faculty and staff while investing in training to help everyone at the school broaden perspectives and address biases. These efforts and more led to the school earning the AEJMC Equity and Diversity Award in 2021.
In addition, Kurpius has strived to ensure that the world’s first journalism school remains ahead of the curve when it comes to preparing students for the future of a rapidly changing industry. In collaboration with faculty, his tenure has seen an overhaul of the school’s curriculum complete with new career-path classes, which are designed to serve the latest needs of news outlets and strategic communication organizations.
He also oversaw the creation of the One Newsroom, a space where students and leadership from each of the school’s five professional news outlets come together to plan coverage and facilitate cross-platform training.
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