Emmerson’s Iowa State career spans from being a student in the 1950s, returning in 1974 as a professor, and serving as chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication from 1986-1993. He advised hundreds of journalism students and taught reporting, print media editing, media ethics, American journalism history and public relations. As an Iowa … Continue reading 2022: James Thomas (Tom) Emmerson
Debra Solberg Gibson’s (1981) career at Iowa State began in 1982 after a stint as editor of Farm Review, the Spencer Daily Reporter’s monthly agribusiness publication based in Spencer, Iowa. She first joined the ISU Alumni Association as an information specialist, serving as the principal writer and editor for the department as well as the alumni editor of The … Continue reading 2021: Debra Solberg Gibson
Rick Phillips (1978) joined Nationwide in 1999, after spending 20+ years working in communications, marketing and public relations positions for Meredith Corporation, United Way of Central Iowa, the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Federation and GuideOne Insurance. As Nationwide’s Chief Communications Officer, Phillips was responsible for leader communications, media relations and issues management, employee … Continue reading 2020: Rick Phillips
Kim Guthrie (1984) is the President of Cox Media Group and the first female president to serve at its 120-year-old parent company Cox Enterprises. As President, Guthrie runs a $2 billion business, which includes 14 broadcast television stations, 60 radio stations, two daily newspapers and over 100 digital websites. Prior to her promotion, she was … Continue reading 2019: Kim Guthrie
Bill Tubbs (1971), publisher of the Eldridge (IA) North Scott Press is an award-winning writer who is the National Newspaper Association’s 2015 James O. Amos Award winner for distinguished service and leadership to the community press and his local community. He is a past president of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, an Iowa Master … Continue reading 2018: William F. “Bill” Tubbs
Margaret “Margy” and the late L. Eugene “Gene” Chamberlin established one of the Greenlee School’s signature programs, the Chamberlin Lecture series, to bring national perspectives in news and advertising to campus. Both Iowa State alumni, Gene (’54, agricultural journalism) and Margy (’55, general sciences) shared a passion for journalism education. After Gene died in 2009, … Continue reading 2017: Gene and Margy Chamberlin
Dean Borg (1959), senior correspondent and producer for Iowa Public Radio, is one of Iowa’s leading voices on public policy and politics. Borg has dedicated his career to educating and informing the public. Since its inaugural broadcast in 1971, Borg has been a fixture on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” hosting and moderating the popular … Continue reading 2016: Dean Borg
Bob (1963, 1968) and Diane (1966) Greenlee helped elevate Iowa State University as a premier place to study journalism and mass communication. In 1998, a generous gift from Bob and Diane transformed one of the university’s oldest programs into the university’s first named school.
William “Bill” F. Kunerth, a 30-year faculty member at the Greenlee School, helped establish Iowa State University as the premier place to find talent among the state’s print and broadcast media; set high reportorial standards for his classes as well as for Iowa State Daily reporters; was an advocate for transparency on campus; compelled the Iowa State Foundation to keep its records open; and kept the Jack Trice story alive through his students over several generations until Cyclone Stadium was named after Trice.
Barbara Mack’s (1974) passion for journalism, law and the First Amendment led to an outstanding career as a reporter, the general counsel for the Register and Tribune Company and an iconic professor in the Greenlee School.