Stacey Woelfel

Stacey Woelfel is a Professor Emeritus at the Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri. He spent 35 years as faculty, serving as news director at KOMU-TV (NBC affiliate) from 1990 to 2014 and founding director of the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism. His academic ranks include Professor and Associate Professor roles. Educated at MU with a B.J. in Broadcast Journalism, M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science, he integrated practical journalism training with academic rigor.

• Education:
  • B.J., Broadcast Journalism, Missouri School of Journalism (1981)
  • M.A., Political Science, University of Missouri (1990)
  • Ph.D., Political Science, University of Missouri (2006)

Research focuses on documentary film-making, drone journalism ethics, and training millennial journalists. He pioneered digital news at KOMU and led the Reynolds Journalism Institute’s drone program. Awards include the Kemper Fellowship (2017), O.O. McIntyre Professorship (2007), and Silver Circle Induction (2006).

Advising and grants include mentoring hundreds of students and establishing the Stacey Woelfel Student Enhancement Fund. The Murray Center’s curriculum emphasizes documentary storytelling through the Missouri Method. He also contributed to international media training, such as workshops in Niger.

Retired to California, he remains influential in documentary journalism through his legacy in education and industry leadership.