School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) alum Steve Pogorzelski (BA ‘83) credits much of his career success to the professional skills he gained and the supportive professors he met here and always hoped to give back to his alma mater in some way. This fall, he and his wife Brenda decided to do that by donating $1 million to establish a professorship to honor the impact of longtime professor and current director Kathleen Bartzen Culver.
“I wouldn’t be in a position to support the school in this way without the lessons that I learned while there,” Pogorzelski said. “Katy has inspired and motivated her students in ways few educators ever do. Her impact is evident in the numerous teaching awards she’s earned … that recognize not just skill, but heart and dedication to shaping future professionals. That’s why Brenda and I wanted to establish this professorship in Katy’s name. Our desire is that her legacy will live on.”
Honoring an Educator Who Shaped Generations
As a three-time SJMC graduate, Culver’s student-first legacy spans over 35 years. After graduating with her PhD in Mass Communication in 1999, she began serving students as a Faculty Associate. Right away, Culver recognized the ever-changing nature of the media industry and knew students needed skills beyond writing and reporting. To address this need, Culver worked to develop an integrated digital media curriculum that included J202, a first-of-its-kind gateway course focused on media practices across journalism and strategic communication. This course has become a model for journalism and mass communication programs around the world and remains a cornerstone of the SJMC curriculum today.
Beyond J202, she has taught courses on media law and ethics, graphic design and more. She has consistently adapted her courses to the needs of current and future students.
“Katy Culver has been an innovator in developing the SJMC undergraduate curriculum to prepare professional communicators for the challenges they face in the 21st Century,” said Evjue Centennial Professor Doug McLeod. “Her dedication to current and former students is remarkable. She seems to know every student that she has ever had by name. This shows that she cares about them as students, future professionals and people.”
Strengthening the SJMC Community Through Connection
Even now, as director of the SJMC, Culver has remained dedicated to fostering an inclusive and vibrant SJMC community.
“Beyond the more than 5,000 students that Katy Culver has taught over three decades at UW-Madison, Katy’s career has fostered excellence on so many fronts,” McLeod said. “She has worked tirelessly to maintain a connection between the SJMC and its alumni, bringing many of them back to the classroom as instructors and guest lecturers to provide our students with cutting edge knowledge, insights and skills. She has also been a crucial figure in developing external resources, such as chaired professorships and undergraduate scholarships, to support the present and future of the SJMC family.”
A Professorship Dedicated to Mentorship
The Professorship will initially be called the SJMC Mentors Professorship until it is named for Culver five years after her retirement from UW–Madison, in compliance with Board of Regents and UW–Madison policies. The Pogorzelskis allowed Culver to select the name of the professorship prior to her retirement. She chose the SJMC Mentors Professorship as a tribute to the many extraordinary teachers and mentors who have shaped generations of journalists, communicators and scholars.
“Speechless’ isn’t a word that gets applied to me often, but that’s what I am,” Culver said. “I am completely blown away by this kindness Steve and Brenda have shown me. But it’s not only about me. It’s about the outstanding teachers who built the foundation of this school – people like Sharon Dunwoody, Jim Baughman, Jim Hoyt and so many others. Naming it the SJMC Mentors Professorship is my tribute to them and to the heart and soul they’ve poured into this community.”
Carrying the Wisconsin Spirit Forward
The Pogorzelskis intended the professorship to support the SJMC’s undergraduate teaching mission by awarding it to teaching faculty, teaching professors, or those with a similar title. Those who receive the professorship will be granted funds to enhance their teaching and deepen their commitment to student success. The Pogorzelskis’ generosity will have a lasting impact on SJMC students and faculty and the future of communication education at UW–Madison. The professorship ensures that mentorship, teaching excellence and the Wisconsin spirit continue to thrive at the SJMC for years to come.
“We all know that Katy’s impact on the SJMC will extend well beyond her retirement,” McLeod said. “This chaired professorship will certainly add to her tremendous legacy.”