Classes: Ethics and the Media, First Amendment and Society, Research and Writing, Message Development, International Mass Media

First year at KU: 1990

Degrees: B.A., journalism, University of Missouri; M.S., speech communications, University of Wisconsin at Superior; Ph.D., mass communications, University of Minnesota

Honors: HOPE Award Finalist, 1997, 1998 and 2003; Del Shankel Teaching Excellence Award Finalist; Excellence in Teaching Award, Center for Teaching Excellence 1999, 2001; Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence; Award of Appreciation, Press Office of Leningrad Oblast

“Have fun. Be productive.” - Tom Volek

by Robin Parker

Tom Volek's students say he keeps his classes friendly, interesting and entertaining by setting reasonable goals, teaching pertinent material and frequently joking with the students during lectures.

"I try to treat the kids the way that I wanted to be treated when I was in school," Volek says. "Ultimately, I hope they learn about the world and what their part is in the world."

Volek plays a part in the world far from his office at KU. He also works as a contractor for the U.S. State Department, giving workshops and consultation to journalists, government agents and universities in Russia and the Ukraine. He counsels them on adjusting the media to continuing changes in society.

"That's what's fun about going to Russia and Eastern Europe," Volek says. "Stuff's always changing, and you can see parallels to what's happened here."

When Volek entered college he didn't have specific plans. He loved writing, so he enrolled in the school of journalism at the University of Missouri. During his sophomore year, he attended the taping of his sister's final production as an intern at KOMU-TV, the University of Missouri's lab station (and a full-power commercial NBC affiliate). Standing in the control room, he discovered a passion for television.

"It was like a light came on over my head, and I said, 'That's what I want to do,'" Volek says.

In 1971 Volek directed his first program, called "Of Interest to Women," for KOMU-TV. He went on to produce and direct commercials, sports games, newscasts and other television programs for stations in Pittsburgh, Kan., and Duluth, Minn.

After 15 years in television, Volek decided to go into teaching. He earned a master's degree in speech communications from the University of Wisconsin at Superior in 1985 and a doctorate in mass communication from the University of Minnesota in 1991. By then he was already teaching at KU.