Kat Lucchesi named 2025 Major Garrett Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Missouri School of Journalism
The Missouri School of Journalism has named Associate Professor Kathryn “Kat” Lucchesi the 2025 Major Garrett Distinguished Faculty Fellow, one of the prestigious Donald W. Reynolds Faculty Fellowships. This appointment underscores the School’s commitment to supporting faculty who exemplify excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Lucchesi, who joined the School in 2019 and recently earned the university-wide Provost’s Teaching Award, brings a wealth of experience in multimedia storytelling and digital strategy. She coordinates and teaches courses such as News Content Creation and Social Media and Audience Strategy. Her professional background includes leading digital communications for collegiate athletic programs and private industry, notably serving as the Director of Social Media for Oregon State University Athletics and as Digital Marketing Director for Stoller Wine Group. Her approach to teaching emphasizes treating students as individuals, fostering a supportive learning environment.
“Kat elevates her students’ experience with the real-world perspective she brings to her teaching,” said David Kurpius, dean of the School of Journalism. “As a driven leader, collaborator and teacher, she embodies what it means to be a Major Garrett Distinguished Faculty Fellow.”
The Reynolds Faculty Fellowships were established through a partnership between the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and the School to recruit, retain and support outstanding faculty. The School received $10 million from the foundation in 2021; however, the foundation’s gift also provides the opportunity for third-party donors to create individual fellowships with gifts of $200,000 to the School. Those matching donors receive the right to name the fellowships.
The Major Garrett Distinguished Faculty Fellowship, established and funded by CBS News chief Washington correspondent and Missouri alumnus Major Garrett, BJ ’84, BA ’84, is one such fellowship created through this initiative.
“To whom much is given, much is required,“ Garrett said. “The Missouri School of Journalism gave me everything and I have the great good fortune to pay that forward.”
Currently, 20 faculty members at the Missouri School of Journalism hold Reynolds Faculty Fellowships, representing a diverse range of disciplines and research interests that work in concert with the School’s broader efforts to invest in faculty excellence and foster an environment of collaborative and impactful scholarship.
Donald W. Reynolds was a 1927 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and spent his life building the Donrey Media Group, ultimately owning more than 100 enterprises in the newspaper, radio, television, cable television, and outdoor advertising industries. The Reynolds Foundation has also supported the construction of Mizzou’s Reynolds Alumni Center and the founding of the Journalism School’s Reynolds Journalism Institute.
Current Donald W. Reynolds Distinguished Faculty Fellows at the School of Journalism:
- Jeanne Abbott, professor
- Liz Brixey, professor
- Elizabeth Frogge, professor
- Robert Greene, associate professor
- Keith Greenwood, associate professor
- Sara Hiles, professor
- Heather Isherwood, professor
- Laura Johnston, professor
- Brian Kratzer, associate professor
- Sungkyoung Lee, associate professor
- Jon Stemmle, professor
Named Fellowships
- Jamie Flink, professor, Molly Bean Distinguished Faculty Fellow. Molly Phelps Bean, BJ ’43, was a longtime Kansas City, Mo., resident and civic volunteer, who served as a board member of Tnemec Company, Inc.
- Jim Flink, professor, Amy and Marshall Senk Distinguished Faculty Fellow. The fellowship is a gift of Amy and Marshall Senk, residents of Corona del Mar, Calif. Amy Senk, BJ ’89, is a freelance writer and the founder and publisher of the online newspaper Corona del Mar Today.
- Amanda Hinnant, professor, Wallace Turner Distinguished Faculty Fellow. Wallace Turner, BJ ’43, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with The Oregonian and The New York Times. The fellowship is a gift of his brother, William V. Turner, BS BA ’56.
- Mark Horvit, professor, Donald W. Reynolds Distinguished Faculty Fellow. This fellowship is a gift of Christopher and Sarah Cox. Christopher Cox, BA ’87, JD ’92, is a partner with Cadwalader Wichersham & Taft LLP in New York City. The fellowship honors Donald W. Reynolds, BJ ’27, the late media entrepreneur and philanthropist, and founder of Donrey Media Group.
- Cristina Mislán, associate professor, Cindy Brinkley Distinguished Faculty Fellow. The fellowship is a gift of Cindy Brinkley, BJ ’91. A resident of St. Louis, Brinkley is recognized nationally as an experienced executive and board director in the corporate, public, educational and not-for-profit sectors.
- Jeimmie Nevalga, professor, Mark and Kiki Hoffman Distinguished Faculty Fellow. The fellowship is a gift of Mark and Kiki Hoffman. Mark Hoffman, MA ’80, is an award-winning broadcast journalist.
- Jen Rowe, professor, Carol Loomis Distinguished Faculty Fellow. Carol Loomis, BJ ’51, one of the industry’s most respected financial journalists, retired in 2014 as senior editor-at-large of Fortune magazine.
- Amy Simons, professor, John Walsh Distinguished Faculty Fellow. John Walsh, MA ’69, is considered the architect of ESPN and one of the most transformative figures in sports journalism. He retired as executive vice president of ESPN in 2015.
- Yong Volz, professor, Roger Gafke Distinguished Faculty Fellow. Roger Gafke is the retired director of program development for the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute and professor emeritus at the Missouri School of Journalism. The fellowship is a gift of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
To learn more about supporting the School’s faculty or establishing a named Reynolds Distinguished Faculty Fellowship, contact the Office of Advancement at (573) 882-4822 or Colin Kilpatrick at kilpatrickc@missouri.edu.
Updated: May 29, 2025