Journalism educator named nation's best

When IU School of Journalism Professor Jack Dvorak isn't teaching class, co-authoring books, writing scholarly articles for trade magazines, or winning national awards, he's out on the links, working on his golf game.\nDvorak was recently named Journalism Educator of the Year at the Association of Educators for Journalism and Mass Communication this past August in Washington, D.C. The award is presented through the Scholastic Journalism Division, a subcommittee of the AEJMC. Each year, the award recipient is nominated by peers in the field of journalism education and is then selected by a committee.\nThe relatively new award is only in its fourth year of existence and is granted because of long-term services and contributions to the field.\nDuring Dvorak's 28-year tenure in journalism education, he has co-authored the book "Journalism Kids Do Better," with fellow research colleagues Larry Lain and Tom Dickson, taught at both the high school and collegiate level, served as a reporter for several daily newspapers, and been the director of the High School Journalism Institute for the past 16 years.\nDvorak's accomplishments have exceeded his expectations. When asked how he got involved in journalism education, he replied, "It was a mistake."\n Indeed, Dvorak began his career as a high school English teacher. As Dvorak said, his entrance into journalism education occurred by accident.\n "Since I was the youngest of six English teachers in my high school, I was handed the responsibility of teaching the journalism classes and supervising the student newspaper," Dvorak said. "But, I found once I was engaged in it, I found that I was able to get my students to write and enjoy writing."\nAs an English teacher, Dvorak said he had a real interest in teaching writing and tried everything to get his students interested in the process. After he acquired the journalism advisor position, he found publishing their work gave them a reason to write.\nWriting gave the students something to work for and be proud of, Dvorak said. \n"They were writing for an audience which in turn helped them to like writing," he said.\nAfter teaching high school for six years, Dvorak said he wanted to pursue the possibility of teaching journalism at the collegiate level. After earning a master's from the University of Minnesota, Dvorak went on to write for several daily newspapers while earning his doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a top-rated journalism institute.\nBefore arriving at IU in 1986, Dvorak taught at both Northeast Missouri State and the University of Iowa. During is time at IU, Dvorak has taught journalism education classes as well as served as director for HSJI.\nJunior Jennifer Brewer, who served as a counselor for this past summer's HSJI, said Dvorak has helped her focus her career goals.\n"Jack has been a great influence to me. He has guided me to do what I want to…which is magazine writing … and not worry about the future," Brewer said. "As Jack said, there aren't too many 20 to 21 year olds in line for the Pulitzer."\nRichard Culp, a elementary teacher in Fairfax, VA, and former HSJI employee, said his experience with Dvorak illustrates love for his colleagues and his work.\n"I think the fact that all his employees call him Uncle Jack says something," Culp said. "His personal relationships with co-workers and colleagues are so genuine that … to me his more like family than a professor or boss."\nDvorak's love for his work is present in the eyes of many, and Culp said Dvorak's humble nature carries with him as well.\nThough Dvorak said there are no limitations to the number of times a journalism educator can win the AEJMC award, he said it is something many are deserving of and could receive.\nDvorak's "go for it" attitude has earned him many accolades throughout his career in journalism education, but for a man who said his career in journalism education "just sort or fell into place," he said he's pleased with the outcome.\n"In retrospect, I'm happy because it turned out that I loved it," he said.