Mary Kay Blakely joined the Missouri School of Journalism faculty in 1997, teaching intermediate and advanced magazine writing as well as a graduate seminar, Literature of Journalism. A contributing editor to Ms. magazine and former Hers columnist for The New York Times, she authored the critically acclaimed books, “Wake Me When It’s Over,” “American Mom” and “Red, White and Oh So Blue.” Her essays on social and political issues appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Mother Jones, LIFE, Vogue, Family Circle, Self, Parents, Newsday, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Lear’s, Glamour, Working Woman as well as other national publications. In 2000, Blakely established a partnership with the New School University to launch the Missouri School of Journalism’s summer program in New York, providing students with internships, professional experience and a multimedia course of study in Manhattan.
The fund, created in memory of Blakely who passed in 2023, will support the school’s New York Program, providing essential operating resources as well as scholarships and experiential opportunities for students studying in the program.