Jennifer Wilson has been named the next Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter Chair of Magazine and Brand Media in the Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Wilson currently is executive editor at Principal Financial Group, where she leads an editorial team in brand content management, enterprise content strategy and storytelling across multiple platforms. Wilson previously was an executive editor at Meredith Corporation (now Dotdash Meredith). She has written two books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has contributed to and edited several. Her work has appeared in Esquire, National Geographic Traveler, Wilderness, Parents, Chicago Tribune and Better Homes and Gardens, among others. She was an editor at Cityview for four years, and told stories for “The Moth,” “Travel with Rick Steves” and “All Things Considered.” Wilson earned bachelor’s degrees in English and journalism from Iowa State University and her master of fine arts in writing from Bennington College. Awards for her work include Best Nonfiction Book from the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and a 2012 Iowa Author Award.
As Fisher-Stelter chair, she succeeds Dr. Catherine M. Staub, who will become dean of the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication on July 1. Wilson will begin her duties as chair at the beginning of the fall 2022 semester. Her responsibilities will include administering the E.T. Meredith Center for Magazine, Brand Media and Multimedia Education, teaching journalism classes and advising student publications.