Dr. Bruce dePyssler
North Carolina Central University
Dr. Bruce dePyssler is an associate professor in the Department of English and Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University. A member of the department since 1998, he has been the faculty advisor of the Campus Echo, NCCU's award-winning newspaper, since 1999. In the past ten years, he has helped elevate the newspaper to national prominence. During this decade of Dr. dePyssler's stellar leadership, the Campus Echo has won over 125 national awards from the Black College Communication Association and from the Associated College Press Association. One of their highest honors came in 2004 when the Campus Echo received the Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for best all-around online student newspaper. Additionally, NCCU has honored Dr. dePyssler and his student staff with the Chancellor's Award in 2006 and 2007. These outstanding achievements demonstrate how instrumental dePyssler has been in encouraging minority students in the field of journalism at this HBCU. In recognition of such distinguished service, the National Conference of Editorial Writers awarded dePyssler the prestigious Barry Bingham Senior Fellowship for 2010.
Dr. dePyssler played a key role in the development of North Carolina Central University's Mass Communication major in 2005, co-authoring the proposal for the major, developing thirteen new courses, and writing grants for essential supplies and equipment. He is not only technically skilled in the most current software in journalism and publishing, but he has demonstrated that he can develop theoretical as well as practical skills courses to train his students. To be quite frank, NCCU's major in Mass Communication would not exist today without his dedication, energy, and professionalism. dePyssler (or DP, as his students affectionately call him) regularly teaches core courses in the major, including desktop publishing, photojournalism, writing and reporting, and advanced and public issues reporting.
DP's students are among the hardest working and most dedicated on campus. As one of his colleagues noted, "I can't tell you how many times I have walked by the Campus Echo office late in the evening and seen students hard at work on their stories. Dr. dePyssler has instilled in his students a powerful work ethic and a delight in the pursuit of excellence. They take great pride in their newspaper, and their achievement is the direct result of DP's tireless efforts on their behalf." In explaining his philosophy of teaching, Dr. dePyssler writes, "I embrace a pedagogical vision that strives to help students achieve self-respect, confidence, and critical self-awareness, a sense for the joy of understanding how our world works and the meaning that can be derived from participating in community and collective endeavor." The success of his students and their respect and admiration for him are testaments to Dr. dePyssler's sustained commitment to effective mentoring and excellent teaching.
dePyssler earned his bachelor's degree in History and Philosophy at the University of North Texas, and his master's degree in Radio, TV, and Film as well as his Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin.