Journalism professor Lisa McLendon will give Budig writing lecture
LAWRENCE – Former KU chancellor Gene Budig strongly believed in the power of writing. In establishing the Gretchen and Gene Budig Teaching Professorship of Writing, his family ensured that others would understand that power. One of the annual requirements for holding the professorship is to present a public lecture on the importance of excellence in writing.
Lisa McLendon, professor of the practice and William Allen White Professor in the KU School of Journalism & Mass Communications, is the recipient of the 2024 Budig Professorship. She will present “Soul of the Story: Writing in the Age of AI,” a lecture on why we write, how we write and why humans are still integral to the writing process. The lecture will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Clarkson Gallery in Stauffer-Flint Hall. The lecture will be available to view afterward on the JMC School YouTube channel.
In her lecture, McLendon will discuss what generative AI means for writing, both as a process and as a product.
McLendon joined the KU journalism school in 2012 after 12 years as a newspaper copy editor. She teaches editing and writing and serves as the coordinator of the Bremner Editing Center, which offers one-on-one editing assistance for students in JMC courses.
“Dr. McLendon embodies all the qualities that the Budig family looked for in establishing this professorship,” said Ann Brill, dean of journalism school. “Every day she shares her passion for the power of excellent writing. Whether it’s coordinating our basic writing course, working one-on-one with students or presenting at national conferences, she helps others understand that power.”
Throughout her career, McLendon has worked with language and words, whether studying linguistics, editing news copy or teaching. She has been the coordinator of JMC 104: Words at Work, the first writing class for JMC students, almost every semester since its inception in 2020, supporting a variety of instructors as well as ensuring the course stays useful and relevant for students.
McLendon has been a member of ACES: The Society for Editing since 2000 and has presented numerous sessions at ACES conferences on topics such as grammar, punctuation, headlines and math. She has served on the ACES board and is currently president of the ACES Education Fund, which raises money to support aspiring and early-career editors through scholarships and fellowships.
In 2024, McLendon received the Bowling Family Excellence in Teaching Award in the journalism school and the Champions of Editing Excellence in Teaching Award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. She is a 2021 recipient of the KU Bob and Kathie Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award, and in 2016 she won the Tim Bengtson Faculty Mentor Award, which honors a JMC faculty member who goes above and beyond in the classroom to support and inspire students.
The Gene A. Budig professorships and lecture series were established in 1994 by Budig and his wife, Gretchen. Budig became KU’s 14th chancellor in 1981, and during his 13-year tenure, more than 180 faculty positions were established. Budig Hall is named in his honor. Learn more about the lecture series online.