John Hudnall

Classes: Research & Writing

First year at KU: 1990

Degrees: B.A., education & journalism, Central Missouri State University; M.S., education, Central Missouri State University

Honors: James Frederick Paschal Award and Gold Key, Columbia Scholastic Press Advisers Association; Pioneer Award, National Scholastic Press Association

“Get involved, find out about internships and take your early courses seriously. They create the foundation for what is to come.” - John Hudnall

by Autumn Baumbach

John Hudnall has his hands full. He's both a lecturer for the J-School and executive director of the statewide organization for secondary-level journalism teachers and students.

Hudnall teaches two sections of Journalism 301 (Research and Writing) during fall semesters and one section during spring semesters. He spends the rest of his time here coordinating the activities of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA), a non-profit association of high school journalism teachers and their students. It sponsors contests and programming for the high school journalism programs statewide.

KU and the KSPA are not the only things that occupy Hudnall's time. In 2000, he completed the revision of a high school journalism text that is currently used in the state of Texas. He also serves as the vice-head of the Scholastic Journalism Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Hudnall says the biggest influence in his journalism career was his college newspaper advisor.

"She was the first woman daily newspaper editor in the state of Missouri," he sys. "She was just real gutsy - tough, real tough. But she made a huge impact in a lot of people's lives, not just mine. She probably had forgotten more about journalism than anyone else will ever know."

After he received his master's degree, Hudnall's first teaching assignment was in 1969 at Marshall High School in Marshall, Mo. He went on to teach at Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Mo., and Westside High School in Omaha before coming to KU.

Hudnall's advice for students is simple and straightforward.

"Get involved, find out about internships and take your early courses seriously," he says. "They create the foundation for what is to come. And don't take yourself too seriously. Life's pretty short, when you think about the big scheme of things."

Hudnall says the best thing about KU is that it is a very traditional college atmosphere.

He says, "There are traditional, spirited types of things that go on here that you don't necessarily see at other schools. It also has a very good academic reputation. At KU you can take pride in where you work."