Lisa Loewen

Classes: Journalism 301 Research and Writing

First year at KU: 2004

Education: B.S in Journalism and Advertising, minors in Marketing, English and Psychology, University of Nebraska, 1990; Masters of Science in Journalism, University of Kansas, 2004

“Don’t hold it against me, but I have a little bit of tiger running through me.” — Lisa Loewen

By Lindsey Scott, Emporia, Kan., senior

Outside of teaching at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Lisa Loewen’s life is dedicated to her family. She has three children, two boys and one girl. Her children not only fill her family life, but they have also inspired her professional life.

Loewen is in her first year of teaching at the J-School. She completed her master’s degree last May and was invited to stay on as a first-year lecturer by Dean Ann Brill. This year she is teaching two sections of Research and Writing. She hopes to stay in her lecturer position at the J-School and also join the doctorate program in the psychology department next fall.

While watching her children grow up, she has noticed how much the media affects their development. She hopes to write her doctoral dissertation on how media affects children, such as children developing and maturing more quickly and how the media portrays the life cycles of children.

“That is where my future research focuses come from. I watch my own children and how their views are altered by what they see and hear in media messages. It’s just shocking to me how much effect that has. So I know it can’t just be isolated to my kids, it has to be happening to everyone, the generation as a whole,” Loewen said.

After completing her doctorate, Loewen hopes to continue teaching courses in journalism, specifically media classes and psychology of advertising. She is really enjoying teaching Journalism 301 and sharing her talents and professional experiences with her students.

“What I like most is watching students take what I tell them and implement it and actually watch them learn something. It’s fun to watch them get it, so to speak,” she said.

Along with her academic research background, she brings plenty of professional experience to the classroom. After receiving her bachelor degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Nebraska, she worked as a media specialist at Bernstein-Rein Advertising in Kansas City, spent several years working as a marketing director in the corporate world, and the past few years has been working on freelance marketing projects. Loewen’s current career goal is to continue down the academic path and become a full-time professor.

“I hope to die here. I love KU, I love the staff here,” she said.

Although she loves KU, she does have to confess to growing up across the state line in Columbia, Mo.

“Don’t hold it against me, but I have a little bit of tiger running through me,” Loewen said.