First year at KU: 1981

Degrees: Bachelor of Music, University of Colorado; Fulbright grant Staatliche Hochschule fuer Musik, Frankfurt/Main, Germany; Master of Music, University of Oklahoma

Contact: 201 Stauffer-Flint, ltidwell@ku.edu, 785-864-7621

"Our office motto is, 'No question is a bad question. Nothing is dumb, you just have to ask.'" — Lynne Tidwell

-by Amy Rush

Assistance with a smile. That's what Lynne Tidwell is known for.

Tidwell is coordinator of undergraduate advising for the School of Journalism. She has helped students and faculty in the journalism student records office, 201 Stauffer-Flint Hall since 1981.

Tidwell helps students who are at all levels of the academic process. Transfer students and pre-journalism students at the University, as well as current journalism school students in all areas of the J-School, come to Tidwell for help. She specializes in answering academic questions about such things as admission and graduation requirements, semester-by-semester plans, enrollment concerns, graduation checks and GPA figuring. 

The questions may vary, but one thing remains constant: One rarely walks out of her office without being warmed by her smile.

"Lynne helped me with all of my transfer questions when I came to the University. Hers was the only voice I heard during the transfer process. It was neat when I finally got to meet her," Chris Dye, Kansas City, Mo., senior said. "She's always willing to help and she's always happy to do so."

While most of the questions and concerns Tidwell deals with are predictable, students sometimes ask her specific questions that are unique only to them.

"We get all sorts of people. We have to be flexible to help everyone," Tidwell said.

It is important, Tidwell said, that pre-journalism majors begin to speak with an advisor or contact her office with questions in order to take classes that will help with admission to the School. Current students enrolled in the School should also feel free to come to her with questions.

"Our office motto is, 'No question is a bad question. Nothing is dumb, you just have to ask,'" Tidwell said.