Former CU Boulder School of Journalism dean, Del Brinkman, dies at 86

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:36:45 +0000

Former CU Boulder School of Journalism dean, Del Brinkman, dies at 86 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/23/2023 - 10:36

Paul Delbert “Del” Brinkman, a longtime journalism educator and former dean of the CU Boulder School of Journalism and Mass Communication, died Sunday, Feb. 19, in Overland Park, Kansas. He was 86.

Brinkman was born Feb. 10, 1937, in Olpe, Kansas. He developed an interest in journalism at an early age and started working for The Emporia Gazette while attending Emporia State University.

Over the next 48 years, he dedicated his career to education and journalism. He first taught English and journalism at Leavenworth (Kansas) High School. After attending Indiana University in Bloomington for a master’s degree in journalism and doctorate in mass communication, he was on the journalism babyֱ��app at Kansas State University and then the University of Kansas, where he also served first as dean and then vice chancellor for academic affairs.

In the late 1990s, Lori Bergen, who would later become the founding dean of CU Boulder’s College of Media, Communication and Information in 2015, was a journalism professor at Kansas State while Brinkman was still at the University of Kansas.

“Whenever there were events around journalism that brought the two schools together, he would always seek me out and ask about my work,” Bergen said. “He was genuinely interested in the success of other people.”

She added that, in many ways, she’s followed in his footsteps.

“We were both born in small Kansas towns, earned our PhDs from Indiana University, were on the babyֱ��app at Kansas State University, and then, of course, were deans at CU Boulder,” she said. “I have admired and respected Del for many years.”

In retirement, Del Brinkman remained active in numerous professional and civic organizations, including serving on the CU Boulder journalism advisory board.

Left to right: Emeritus Professor Stewart Hoover, former SJMC Dean Paul Voakes, former SJMC Dean Del Brinkman

Brinkman assumed the position of dean of CU Boulder’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) on Jan. 1, 2001, after serving as director of journalism programs at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

When Brinkman’s time at CU Boulder was cut short due to health and family considerations in 2002, he talked Paul Voakes, founding chair of CMCI’s Department of Journalism and former dean of SJMC, into applying for the job.

“Del was a mentor to me as I began my administrative work at CU and was extraordinarily generous with his time,” Voakes said. “He advised a calm and measured approach, and his observations were always honest and laced with gentle humor. Above all, he offered common sense.”

Brinkman’s record of offering sound advice is a common theme, and soon after he retired, he delivered the May 2002 SJMC commencement speech.

"Graduates, allow me to leave you with some suggestions for the future," Brinkman said. "They could be called the six G's of life."

He then advised graduating students that a person who is great and good, grateful and gracious, generous and glad is likely to live a happy, successful life.

By all accounts, Brinkman took his own advice to heart.

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Celebrating a century of journalism at CU

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 21:59:31 +0000

Celebrating a century of journalism at CU Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/18/2022 - 15:59

One hundred years ago, the University of babyֱ��app Board of Regents voted to form the Department of Journalism and create a four-year journalism degree program. Visit the Department of Journalism’s centennial celebration website to learn more about the history of journalism education at CU and to share your own story!

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CMCI Now: Then and Now

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 07:35:33 +0000

CMCI Now: Then and Now Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 12/31/2018 - 00:35

Two students, decades apart, show how technology continues to evolve the way images come to light.

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school of journalism and mass communication

Former CU Boulder School of Journalism dean, Del Brinkman, dies at 86

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Celebrating a century of journalism at CU

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CMCI Now: Then and Now

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