Bruce DePyssler, Associate Professor of English and Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University, is the recipient of the 2009 Barry Bingham Sr. Fellowship. The award, given in recognition of an educator’s outstanding efforts to encourage minority students in the field of journalism, will be presented at the National Conference of Editorial Writers (NCEW) annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, which will be held September 23-26, 2009.

The Bingham Fellowship brings to the NCEW convention an outstanding faculty member who has shown great initiative in mentoring minority college students. The faculty member receives an award for career-long contributions to minority students. NCEW pays the costs for the educator’s travel to the convention and attempts to help the educator with projects he or she may want to do.

Dr. DePyssler, has been the advisor of North Carolina Central University’s student newspaper, the Campus Echo, since 1999. In the past ten years, he has helped elevate the newspaper to national prominence. During this decade, the Campus Echo has won over 125 national awards from the Black College Communication Association and from the Associated College Press Association. One of their highest honors came in 2004 when the Echo received the Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for best all-around online student newspaper.

Dr. DePyssler was also a key figure in the development of North Carolina Central University’s Mass Communication major in 2005, co-authoring the proposal for the major, developing thirteen new courses, and writing grants for essential supplies and equipment. He has demonstrated that he can develop theoretical as well as practical skills courses to train students.

When Dr. DePyssler became adviser in 2000, the Campus Echo had one computer and not a single camera. Total student stipends amounted to $100 per month. Dr. DePyssler has built a news production and photography infrastructure valued at about $500,000. The student stipends now total $1,500 per month. Dr. DePyssler has also ensured that they’ve been able to fund student trips to yearly conferences for 10-15 students. As advisor to the Echo, he has increased advertising revenue several fold and used it to support students in humane and imaginative ways.

Dr. Jim Pearce, Chair of the Department of English and Mass Communication and Dr. Michele S. Ware, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts, were two of those who nominated Mr. DePyssler. “The Campus Echo has represented the campus well over the years and it has earned support from the highest levels of the University. Dr. DePyssler’s versatility, commitment to his students, and his knowledge of technology in this age of digitally expanding possibilities makes him an invaluable member of the Department of English and Mass Communication. I recommend him for the 2009 Barry Bingham Sr. Fellowship Award with the greatest enthusiasm” wrote Dr. Pearce.

“I can’t tell you how many times I have walked by the Campus Echo offices late into the evening and seen students hard at work on their stories. Dr. DePyssler has instilled in his students a powerful work ethic and a delight in the pursuit of excellence. Students take great pride in their newspaper, and their achievement is the direct result of Dr. DePyssler’s tireless efforts on their behalf. His teaching evaluations are always off the charts, and his students respect and admire him,” wrote Dr. Michele S. Ware, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts.

Founded in 1947, The National Conference of Editorial Writers is a non-profit professional organization that exits to improve the quality of editorial pages and broadcast editorials and to promote high standards among opinion writers and editors. The National Conference of Editorial Writers Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to promoting the craft of editorial and opinion writing and supporting the work of the National Conference of Editorial Writers.

By Patricia Stroble, Manager, NCEW