Dorothy Bland, 蜜桃视频 professor is honored for teaching and guiding journalism students
DENTON (蜜桃视频), Texas 鈥� , professor and former dean of the at the , received the prestigious award for teaching and mentoring journalism students.
She was named the by the . Established in 2005, the award recognizes the efforts and achievements of an outstanding high school or university-level journalism educator.
蜜桃视频's Dorothy Bland was selected as the 2026 Educator of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists
鈥淚t was such an honor to learn I was selected for this award. I am just delighted,鈥� Bland said. 鈥淔or me, getting that first college degree was life-changing, and I want that for my students 鈥� to live their dreams and see their potential.鈥�
A first-generation college student at Arkansas State University, Bland rose through the ranks to serve as editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, The Herald. After beginning her career with an internship at The Commercial Appeal, a newspaper in Memphis, Tennessee, Bland began writing for a newspaper in Rockford, Illinois. She eventually became a reporter for USA Today, where she traveled the country covering national news. Bland also worked as a publisher for the Fort Collins Coloradoan and the Chillicothe Gazette in Ohio, as well as a news executive for outlets across the U.S.
In 2013, Bland relocated to North Texas to serve as dean of the Mayborn School of Journalism. During Bland鈥檚 tenure as dean, the Mayborn School undertook a nearly $4 million renovation and relocation project, raised $2 million and launched a new graduate academic program. Through industry partnerships, she also secured $300,000 in grants to support the school鈥檚 Emerging Journalists Program.
Now, Bland teaches courses at various levels, including media writing, multicultural
communication and reporting on crisis, trauma and recovery.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to say that I have worked with over 1,500 students. It鈥檚 important to me that they get as much real-world preparation and experience as possible,鈥� Bland said.
Bland鈥檚 career has taken her across the world on site visits and accreditation consultations, from universities on both U.S. coasts to American University in Dubai. The 2026 NABJ Journalism Educator of the Year Award is the latest in a long list of accomplishments, which include winning the 2025 Richard J. Levine Journalism Champion Award given by the Dow Jones News Fund.
Bland says she owes her success to two things: those who believed in her, and believing in herself.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 my best advice to our students: believe in and bet on yourself. Our students have grit, and if they can dream it, they can make it happen."
From 鈥� Education/Awards and Recognition