Friday, April 25, 2008
Christy Bradford, lecturer of journalism, died unexpectedly early Thursday morning of an apparent heart attack.
Associate Dean of journalism David Guth said Bradford was one of the most versatile instructors in the school.
“To make a baseball analogy, she was a utility infielder,” Guth said, “I could put her anywhere on the field.”
Bradford had 35 years of experience in journalism including working as a managing editor of Detroit News when it won a Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting in 1994.
Bradford moved to Kansas City with her husband in 1999 and requested to teach at the University of Kansas. She was immediately added to the faculty.
“She brought not only her experience, but a real sense of humanity to the classroom,” Guth said.
What Bradford became known for within the school was her work as the multi-cultural scholars advisor, boasting that her department had the highest multi-cultural GPA last year, according to Ann Brill, dean of journalism.
“She was really proud of those students,” Brill said.
One of her multi-cultural students, Kim Wallace, Fort Smith, Ark., senior, credited Bradford for helping her get through her freshman and sophomore years.
“She was the person you went to when everything was falling apart,” Wallace said. “She would tell you everything is okay and help you figure out how to get through it.”
Gabriella Souza, KU alumna, said, “I felt I could go to her to just complain or unwind. She was a problem solver.”
Souza, who served as editor-in-chief of the University Daily Kansan last year and is now a staff writer at the News-Press in Fort Meyers, Fla, said that she would not be a journalist without Bradford.
“I just wouldn’t, there is no question,” Souza said.
Souza said that Bradford was an amazing example of what a woman journalist could be.
“When she went into the business, it was dominated by men and she was able to succeed and do well.” Souza said.
“Then she came here to teach, but she stayed connected to the outside world and that kept her credible.”
Souza said that Bradford had a special way of teaching.
“She never pushed her own agenda,” Souza said. “She always wanted you to find your own story and learn.”
Bob Giles, curator at Harvard University’s Nieman Institute, worked closely with Bradford hiring her on the Democrat and Chronicle in 1981 before they both went to the Detroit News in 1986.
“She was a strong right hand, a solid editor and she had an instinct for a good story.” Giles said. “She was always a teaching editor and that reflected and carried over to her classes at KU.”
Giles said Bradford was a very private person.
“Although you didn’t know her inner-most thoughts, she had a great following of people that cared about her.”
Guth said she mentioned she wasn’t feeling well on Wednesday and arranged a work day for her students on Thursday so she could go to the doctor.
The school is now working to notify Bradford’s students.
Dean Guth said that in her memory, students in her classes should receive a sense continuity and receive the fair credits they deserve.
“We owe it to Christy to honor what she believed in-- that is teaching good journalism-- and to move on. This is a very sad day for all of us.”
No funeral arrangements have been made yet.
— Edited by Jared Duncan
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