Ambassador Carolyn Curiel, a Hammond native and Purdue University professor of communication, was named by Crain's NewsPro as one of the top journalism educators in the nation.
Crain’s NewsPro, a leading publication for news media professionals, in its January publication focused on leading journalism educators and the difference they make. Those recognized were selected from among educators nominated by top practitioners, including Crain’s NewPro subscribers. Crain’s NewsPro editorial staff reviewed dozens of nominees from across the nation and consulted other news industry experts to arrive at its final list of 10, including Curiel.
Curiel came to higher education after a career in journalism and public service. She served on the Editorial Board of The New York Times, managing its important election endorsements, and was an Emmy-nominated Producer-Writer for the former ABC News Nightline program with Ted Koppel. She also has worked at The Washington Post and at United Press International.
She also was called into public service to write speeches for former President Bill Clinton during his first term. As Senior Speechwriter and Special Assistant to the President, she helped him draft speeches on expanding opportunity. These included addresses on race and social equity, the Memphis speech, the Tuskegee apology, and the “mend it, don’t end it” speech on affirmative action.
During his second term, President Clinton nominated her to be U.S. Ambassador to Belize and the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed her in 1997. Curiel is an alumna of Purdue University and Morton High School.
Her method of applied, interdisciplinary teaching at Purdue has centered on educating and testing students in real world environments, regularly bringing them together with respected journalists, policymakers and newsmakers. She founded the nonpartisan Purdue Institute for Civic Communication, began the university’s first program in Washington, D.C. and launched a national opinion poll of eligible voters conducted by her students.
She partnered with C-SPAN, other news organizations, and other universities to enhance her students’ learning experiences. Through the institute, her students intern and pursue other professional opportunities in journalism, public service and related fields. Many of her former students are making their careers in Washington.
“This recognition is a testament to our students’ hard work and the results we have achieved,” said Curiel. “Journalism, vital to the civic health of our nation, needs new generations of sharp, prepared reporters, writers, editors and producers who inform the public with the facts. Robust communication programs that include seasoned journalists are needed more than ever.”
In her seven years teaching as a clinical professor in the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue, Curiel has educated and mentored more than 500 students studying in the humanities, STEM disciplines and other fields.
She earned her B.A. in Radio-TV-Film at Purdue, which awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2008. She has served on the Advisory Board of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. She serves on the board of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, and is a member of the somewhat secretive Judson Welliver Society of former White House speechwriters.