San Francisco Alumni Host Reception for New Missouri Journalism Dean

Approximately 45 alumni and friends met Dean David Kurpius as an Aug. 4 reception in San Francisco.
Approximately 45 alumni and friends met Dean David Kurpius as an Aug. 4 reception in San Francisco.

The Event Is Part of a Listening Tour to Learn from Graduates and Industry Professionals

San Francisco (Aug. 6, 2015) — In the 107 years since the Missouri School of Journalism turned out its first graduates, there have been 19 US presidents, 18 California governors, 16 San Francisco mayors, 10 popes, 15 presidents of the University of Missouri, 20 head football coaches at Mizzou – but just nine deans of the journalism school.

“Dave, this is certainly a prestigious appointment, but it also may be a life sentence,” said Brad Whitworth, BJ ’75, as he introduced Dave Kurpius to approximately 45 alumni and friends during an Aug. 4 reception in San Francisco.

Whitworth then engaged Kurpius in what he described as a “fast and shallow” interview: Who’s your favorite dean: James Dean, Paula Deen or Jimmy Dean? Your favorite tiger: Mike from Baton Rouge, Tony from Battle Creek or Truman from Columbia? Kurpius aced these and other questions.

Whitworth, a senior communication and marketing manager at Cisco in San Jose, along with Pat Patton, MA ’71, a news executive who recently retired from KRON-TV, hosted the event. San Francisco-area alumni helping to plan the event were Sally French, BJ ’13, social media editor, MarketWatch; Sarah Frueh, BJ ’12, account supervisor, MSLGroup; and Carson Reese, BS BA ’11, financial operations analyst, Zendesk.

The San Francisco reception is one of the first on a listening tour that Kurpius will conduct in the upcoming months. The inaugural event was held July 23 in Kansas City. Beyond the School’s faculty and staff, he will meet with alumni, news media and strategic communication leadership and others to determine how best to strategically focus available resources.

Updated: September 10, 2020

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