David Kurpius

Notable work and positions

Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri — Dean and Publisher of the Columbia Missourian (2015– )
LSU Manship School of Mass Communication — Former Professor and Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management (1997–2015)

Biography

David D. Kurpius has served as dean of the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri since July 1, 2015, succeeding Dean Mills, who led the school for 25 years. As dean, he also serves as publisher of the Columbia Missourian, the school's daily newspaper. Kurpius joined the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication in 1997, where he taught advanced newsgathering, public affairs reporting, and courses on minorities in journalism, and served as associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration from 2005 to 2010 and as director of LSU's Office of Student Media. He later served as LSU's associate vice chancellor for enrollment management, managing 89 staff members, a $5.6 million operating budget, and roughly $305 million in state and federal financial aid. Kurpius holds a bachelor's degree in telecommunication from Indiana University (1986), and a master's degree (1995) and doctorate (1997) in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his doctoral research focused on civic journalism. Before entering academia, he worked more than 10 years in professional television news as a reporter, producer, and news director. His research has appeared in more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, and he has served as a researcher for the Kettering Foundation and the Pew Center for Civic Journalism.