Roanoke Times' retired publisher joins faculty for fall '07

Spring 2007 - Wendy Zomparelli, recently retired president and publisher of The Roanoke Times, will join the Washington and Lee University faculty in September as its fourth Donald W. Reynolds Distinguished Visiting Professor.

Zomparelli will teach two courses in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications during the fall term: Contemporary Issues and The Future of News. Contemporary Issues, an editorial and opinion-writing class, is part of the department’s regular curriculum.

The Future of News is a new course, designed by Zomparelli to examine how technology is changing the way audiences, particularly young audiences, access and use news, and what impact these changes may have on the key role of journalism in a democratic society. It will be open to students from all majors.

Zomparelli's professorship is made possible by a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., it is one of the largest foundations in the United States.

Brian Richardson, head of the journalism department at Washington and Lee, said of Zomparelli:

"Wendy combines extensive professional editing and management experience with a keen mind and disciplined intellect. She will provide an appropriate challenge to our students as they consider tough questions about the news media and current issues in our society."

Zomparelli joined The Roanoke Times in 1984 as a staff writer, became assistant features editor a few months later and was appointed features editor the following year. In 1992 she was named assistant to President and Publisher Walter Rugaber. She was named editor in 1995, vice president and general manager in 1998, and president and publisher in 2000.

Upon her retirement Zomparelli joined Kannon Consulting of Chicago as a senior associate working primarily with media companies.