John Schneller, Journalism Professor, Receives Kemper Award

Columbia, Mo. (April 25, 2005) -- John Schneller, Missouri School of Journalism Assistant Professor and metro editor of the Columbia Missourian, has been awarded the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence.

Assistant Journalism professor John Schneller, BJ '80, discusses the direction and depth of a new story assignment with Jacob Hackman, a junior magazine major.

John Schneller Newspaper Journalism Faculty Dean Mills Convergence Journalism Dean Mary Kay Blakely Magazine Journalism Faculty Sandy Davidson Journalism Studies Faculty Cynthia Frisby Strategic Communication Faculty Don Ranly Professor Emeritus Lee Wilkins Radio-TV Journalism Professor

"From the moment John Schneller arrives on campus each day until the time he goes home - 10 to 12 hours later - every word he utters teaches someone something," noted more than 15 of his peers in the nomination letter sent to the review committee.

Schneller is one of 10 professors on the MU Columbia campus who were chosen as this year's Kemper award recipients. Along with the prestigious recognition, the winners also receive a $10,000 gift to be used at their discretion.

Schneller is involved in normal in-class instruction, but spends most of his time, and does most of his teaching in the newsroom of the Missourian. One-on-one with the students, Schneller not only edits the stories, but he also helps to structure the writing process and helps the students with the angle of their stories.

"We're all very proud of John, and of all our other incredibly energetic, gifted and caring newsroom teachers," said Dean Mills, professor and dean of the School. "They educate the best journalists in the world with one hand while producing some of the world's best journalism with the other."

Described by some as a "guitar-picking, turkey-hunting master of the art," Schneller's teaching abilities have never been questioned. A former correspondent for the Kansas City Star/Times, while in college, and city editor for the Columbia Tribune, he became an assistant journalism professor in the fall of 2000.

"We've really got a stellar faculty here at the J-School; they are as dedicated to the students as they are to the field of journalism," said Jacob Hackman, a junior magazine major from Boonville. "John's humility and modesty in accepting the award shows that the faculty places the work, and the students, above any personal glory they may receive."

Schneller is the sixth journalism professor to be recognized as a Kemper Fellow, marking the fourth year in a row that a journalism professor has been recognized. Previous winners are Mary Kay Blakely, Sandra Davidson, Cynthia Frisby, Don Ranly and Lee Wilkins. The first Kemper Fellowships were awarded in 1991.