June 15, 2020
Collegian Media Group names new director
Submitted by Journalism and Mass Communications
David Levy, who has been the student media adviser at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, since 2018, has been appointed director of the Collegian Media Group. His appointment becomes official on Aug. 1 following an extensive national search to find a seasoned professional to manage the Collegian and its affiliated publications, the Royal Purple yearbook and Manhappenin’ magazine.
Levy will replace Linda Puntney, who served as the interim CMG director last academic year, replacing Steve Wolgast, who left K-State last fall after a decade as the leader of the CMG organization.
At Appalachian State, Levy advised a staff of 70 students who published a daily online newspaper, the Appalachian, and a live weekly television newscast for the local cable channel. During his time as adviser, Levy's students earned 36 national and statewide awards through the College Media Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. Additionally, the print and online editions of the Appalachian were judged as the top publications in their categories at the North Carolina College Media Association competitions for the past two years.
Before joining the faculty at Appalachian State, Levy served in a similar role at Wright University in Chicago. He teaches classes in reporting, writing, copy editing and media ethics.
Levy also has a background in television. An avid cyclist, he has produced a nationally distributed television series for the Public Broadcasting System, Pedal America, which was seen by 92% of the PBS audience in the U.S. and Canada. He hopes to continue producing the show here at K-State and to open new internship and practicum opportunities for JMC students.
"Kansas State University has always been considered one of the top student publications jobs in the country," said Steve Smethers, director of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications. "Our century-old tradition in producing award-winning student media has made this a respected position among the nation's college media advisers.
"David Levy is the perfect match for K-State and where we are headed as a program," Smethers said. "He has a track record of leading students in producing quality media products at Appalachian State, and I know he will bring that track record to the Collegian Media Group."