Marshall University’s W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SOJMC) is welcoming four new members to its Hall of Fame.
Katherine L. “Kitty” Dooley, Caryn Schafer Gresham, Jason Pheister and Mark Truby will be inducted into the hall during a ceremony this spring.
“This year’s class of inductees is another stellar example of how Marshall has one of the best journalism and mass communications programs in the country,” said Chris Dickerson, president of the SOJMC Alumni Advisory Board, which handles the nomination process. “We’re fortunate to have such a rich pool of candidates who have done great things locally, regionally, nationally and even globally in media and other industries.
“We are extremely proud of all of our graduates, and it is an honor to welcome four more very deserving members to our Hall of Fame.”
The first class was enshrined in 1985, and the latest honorees bring the number of inductees to 85.
Dooley, a 1980 SOJMC graduate, has practiced law in Charleston for more than 30 years. She served in the U.S. Army before obtaining her law degree. She has volunteered with Charleston YWCA’s Committee for Racial Equity and Inclusion as well as the Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority. She’s received numerous awards for her civil rights work and has served in various capacities with the West Virginia State Bar and the Mountain State Bar Association.
Gresham, a 1974 SOJMC graduate, enjoyed a 45-year career in public relations and communications that included work at Union Carbide, Columbia Gas Transmission, West Virginia Division of Tourism and the state Division of Culture and History. She and her teams were responsible for internal and employee communications, public and media relations, community relations and crisis communications.
Pheister, a 2001 SOJMC graduate, is vice president of news and content for Spectrum News from Charter Communications. He leads teams across six states that are regularly honored by the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards, Emmy Awards and the Society of Professional Journalists. He was awarded more than 25 Emmy Awards for his work as a program producer and executive producer of documentaries. He also worked as an executive producer, producer and reporter at WSAZ-TV and WOWK-TV.
Truby, a 2012 SOJMC graduate, is chief communications officer of Ford Motor Company. He worked at the Charleston Daily Mail, the Herald-Dispatch, USA Today and the Detroit News and won several national journalism awards before joining Ford in 2007. He started his current job in 2017, and he recently was named to PR Week’s Power List of the 50 most influential public relations leaders in America.
Inductees need to have a connection to the SOJMC, such as being a graduate or a faculty member, and should meet at least one of two major criteria to be nominated:
A graduate of Marshall’s JMC program who has contributed to Journalism and Mass Communications as a profession. The nominee has made a contribution to the profession of journalism or has made a positive impact upon the profession.
Contribution(s) to Marshall University’s SOJMC. The nominee, either through talent, treasure or activity, has made an outstanding impact upon the school.
The school has an enshrinement dinner and ceremony each year to honor the inductees. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2024, in the John Marshall Room of the Memorial Student Center. More details about this spring’s ceremony will be announced at a later date.
For more information or questions about the SOJMC Hall of Fame, please contact the school at sojmc@marshall.edu.